-R v. W and Kansas-

SCOTUS! Oh, my: what a sham!
And boy, are we in a jam!
The ruling it made
On Roe versus Wade
Sets us back fifty years. ****!

With their extremist mentality,
They THINK they're defending morality.
They merely show
What we all know:
That they're out of touch with reality.

The people of Kansas decided
That they will not be misguided.
Women won't lose
Their right to choose,
For reason and sense have presided.

-China-

China is rattling its saber
And hurling more threats at its neighbor.
Taiwan be free?
That just can't be:
A point China loves to belabor.

-Brittney Griner-

Brittney Griner has learned
How easy it is to get burned
In Putin's domain--
A scary terrain.
We all want Griner returned!

Let Russia be struck from your list
Of places to visit. The gist?
People's small actions
Are major infractions,
For justice there doesn't exist.

-by Bob B (8-4-22)

(For some reason, I found this poem in my DRAFTS. I guess I hadn't "published" it for public eyes, and it sat, along with 25 or so of my other poems, in my DRAFTS folder until today. Sorry about the delay.)

(This poem could be sung to the melody of "Michelle" by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.)

D.T., you'll see:
Though you fool your minions with your lies,
You don't fool me.
D.T., je sais…
Je sais qui vous êtes vraiment…se sais…
Je sais vraiment.
Say, what the hell were you thinking?
When you took all those docs?
You think that simple locks
Will protect top secret docs from getting out of your hands?

D.T., I'll say
You aren't fit to run this country, no,
I say no way.
There are folks out there who want you
To be their shining star.
They don't see who you are.
Or if they do, they might see through your guise, and they dare
Not to care.

You HAVE to know that you aren't guilt free.
But does that faze you? No.
You just put on your show.
To get your way you have to play the martyr each day.

D.T., you'll see.
Fess up to your wrongs and be a man.
Yes, be a man.
I say accountability's a word that you have to learn,
Dear D.T.

D.T., you'll see:
Though you fool your minions with your lies,
You don't fool me.

-by Bob B (8-14-22)

(For some reason, I found this poem in my DRAFTS. I guess I hadn't "published" it for public eyes, and it sat, along with 25 or so of my other poems, in my DRAFTS folder until today. Sorry about the delay.)

Do people tell you that you have
An RBF by any chance,
And when you're in their company,
You find that many look askance?

Having such a face might not
In the long run be so bad.
People just aren't sure if you
Are happy, bored, upset, or mad.

In fact, with an RBF,
Your ****** skin needs much less care
Because with fewer smiles or frowns,
Your face shows fewer signs of wear.

Our happy, smiling, laughing, frowning,
Or scowling faces can, I guess,
Have an expressive look right now
But soon become a wrinkled mess.

You've surely heard of Bette Davis,
The actress of the stage and screen.
When it comes to RBFs,
People say she was the queen.

Some don't like the expression at all.
When they hear it, ooh, they lose it.
That's why I, of course, must say
That I would never, ever use it.

-by Bob B (9-8-22)

°Resting ***** face

(For some reason, I found this poem in my DRAFTS. I guess I hadn't "published" it for public eyes, and it sat, along with 25 or so of my other poems, in my DRAFTS folder until today. Sorry about the delay.)

My memories give me a lot of comfort,
And every single one of them mends
My heart, which suffers from the loss
Of family, relatives, and friends.

Ah, those glorious days we spent
Together as we journeyed through life,
Sharing love, laughter, and cheer,
And sometimes struggles through storm and strife.

Lifetimes have varied--some were cut short
Long before we'd ever expected.
They are considered short stories
Among life's stories that we've collected.

Others have been more fortunate.
Their lives are Russian novels, I'd say.
They lived through multiple generations--
Their skin grew wrinkled; their hair turned gray.

Some folks plan to reunite
With loved ones for all eternity.
Others are more inclined to believe
The idea: whatever will be will be.

Of course, we'd rather have the departed
With us, and in a way they are.
The light of their being shines on us
As does the light of a distant star.

Therefore, take comfort in memories--
A gentle balm that after a while
Will ease your anguish, lessen your pain,
Dry your tears, and make you smile.

-by Bob B (1-4-23)

(For some reason, I found this poem in my DRAFTS. I guess I hadn't "published" it for public eyes, and it sat, along with 25 or so of my other poems, in my DRAFTS folder until today. Sorry about the delay.)

Putin's year-long war continues
To batter Ukraine--to ****, to destroy.
The autocrat's reasons for being there
Are definitely a political ploy.

Killing civilians while also attacking
Ukraine's infrastructure as well,
The Russians are bent on total destruction.
Where this will go is hard to foretell.

And Russian sympathizers here
Join in with Putin's sing-a-long.
Florida's governor, Ron DeSantis,
Claims that Putin's done nothing wrong!

Who can tell where DeSantis gets
His false information and mistaken views?
Probably from too many incorrect
Podcasts and also from watching Fox News.

While Russia ramps up its fierce attacks,
Ukraine will fight to the bitter end.
Here's a reminder for those who've forgotten:
Putin, folks, is NOT our friend.

We pledged our support for Ukraine, and so
For the sake of freedom, we MUST follow through.
Condoning Putin's atrocities
Would certainly be the wrong thing to do.

-by Bob B (2-21-23)

(For some reason, I found this poem in my DRAFTS. I guess I hadn't "published" it for public eyes, and it sat, along with 25 or so of my other poems, in my DRAFTS folder until today. Sorry about the delay.)

Did God create human beings,
Or was it the other way around?
The question resembles a Zen koan--
Such as the one-handed clapping sound.

To some, merely asking the question
Is a virtual powder keg.
It's like the question: What came first--
Was it the chicken, or was it the egg?

Some things are beyond knowing:
We can only speculate
As to how and why we got here.
It's still fun to contemplate.

The writers of all religious scriptures
Have a bias they choose to share.
They hope that their ideas will make
Curious, hungry believers aware.

The story behind human existence
To some is a matter of great pith.
Others have a difficult time
Accepting a simple creation myth.

Some folks are not satisfied
And want to gaze beyond the façade--
Beyond the human formulations
That try to define the concept of God.

People adhere to what makes sense
To them, and some of them will chide me,
For I prefer to allow science,
Reason, and common sense to guide me.

Being able to think and question
Are benefits of humankind.
So who created whom? The query
Will always challenge the questioning mind.

-by Bob B (3-20-23)

(For some reason, I found this poem in my DRAFTS. I guess I hadn't "published" it for public eyes, and it sat, along with 25 or so of my other poems, in my DRAFTS folder until today. Sorry about the delay.)

You think you're healthy and in good shape.
Cholesterol is low.
Blood pressure is not a problem.
You've got some get-up-and-go.

You go on a daily four-mile walk.
You eat as well as you can.
Fruits and vegetables are both
Part of your daily plan.

Yes, you like your sweets; you feel
Life must have some perks.
You try to balance the good with the bad
And always hope that it works.

Avoiding stressful debt, you live
Comfortably in the black.
And then without any warning, what happens?
You have a heart attack!

Life we know is full of surprises.
Expect the unexpected.
It's strange how a problem with one's heart
Could long go undetected.

The help from paramedics and doctors
And nurses--I can say--
Has given me a new lease on life,
For I am alive today.

A stent in a major artery lets
The blood flow near the heart.
I hope that no more blockages
Will show up in my chart.

Although our bodies are strong and resilient,
It is also said
That despite our resiliency,
We hang by the thinnest thread.

I hope my ticker keeps on ticking,
Displacing some of my fears;
And may the beats continue to sound
For many, many years.

-by Bob B (4-2-23)

(For some reason, I found this poem in my DRAFTS. I guess I hadn't "published" it for public eyes, and it sat, along with 25 or so of my other poems, in my DRAFTS folder until today. Sorry about the delay.)

Donald Trump and Elon Musk--
And this, of course, is no surprise--
Continue to spread misinformation
And hope that we believe their lies.

Now it's about the devastating
Fires raging through L.A.
We are hearing attacks and blame
From Trump and his new protégé.

Musk is blaming the Dems and "wokeness"
And thus is throwing fuel on the flames;
Trump is stupidly misleading fans
By making false, inaccurate claims.

The two men rely on a place
Where lies and misinformation abound:
The Internet--now a perfect
Conspiracy theory breeding ground.

Fact-checking is crucial now
More than ever as Trump distracts
The public with his verbal garbage
And Musk with his alternative "facts."

-by Bob B (1-10-25)

How can we ignore what happened
On THIS dark day four years ago?
Let us paint it as though it were
Depicted in the style of Van Gogh:

The painting must show emotional depth
To clearly demonstrate its sadness.
The brush strokes, wide and wild,
Should display the utter madness.

To show the anger--not love--apply
Thick and intense globs of red,
Which will also represent
Brutality and blood that was shed.

Apply bright streaks of yellow color
To focus on the cowardly thugs--
There as insurrectionists
And NOT there to pass out hugs.

The Capitol should be depicted
From different angles. That represents
All the absurd conspiracy theories
Believed by all the malcontents.

The paint? Of course, make sure it's thick
To show the thickness of the lies
That Trump and his supporters have told
To make us NOT believe our eyes.

Swirling strokes should indicate
A stark but vivid intensity
Of violence, for which Trump's mobs
Have a scary propensity.

The composition should guide the viewers'
Eyes to see the overall truth--
And NOT to be taken in by those
With tactics questionable and uncouth.

Now stand back; observe our painting.
We must never ever let
The horrors of that day become
A bagatelle that we forget.

-by Bob B (1-6-25)

An odd prayer to say at bedtime--
Especially for the children's sake--
Is one that has them saying each night
"If I should die before I wake."

“Die before I wake”? Oh, no!
That is not a comforting thought—
That all my efforts to live and breathe
This very night could come to naught?

So when the kiddies say the prayer
"Now I lay me down to sleep…,"
Just imagine all the thoughts
That into little heads might creep:

Thoughts rekindling many fears--
Of ghouls ******* out their breath,
Of monsters crawling out of the closet,
Of countless things that might cause death.

And after that, while the children's
Imaginations are on a roll,
They think that from a distant place
A "lord" is going to take their soul.

How can that be comforting?
Wouldn't something life-affirming
Be much more appropriate
And not have little bed goers squirming?

Something giving them joy and hope,
Something that will help them thrive
And learn to appreciate the world
And thus feel lucky to be alive?

Are little ones still saying that prayer?
Are there parents who still demand it?
I guess that one would have to be
A praying sort to understand it.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I hope I won't be counting sheep.
Let's ALL have pleasant dreams instead,
And wake up glad that we aren't dead.

-by Bob B (12-31-24)

When Santa returned to the slushy North Pole--
Effects of global warming, you see--
He sat down in his old recliner,
Sighed, and muttered, "Oh, dear me."

Mrs. Claus--who had been in bed--
Entered the room and felt distressed
To see her hubby in such a state--
So disconsolate and depressed.

She offered to make him a cup of hot coffee--
Something that Santa would never refuse--
As he wrote lyrics to what he called
"The Merry Little Christmas Blues":°

"I don't like what's happening to Christmas;
It's just not the same.
It's now so
Commercial that it's such a shame.

"I don't like what's happening to Christmas;
Gone are peace and joy.
I now fear
For every little girl and boy.

"Wars rage on bringing suffering
All around the world. So sad.
Many folks follow autocrats.
Oh, I think the world's gone mad.

"If the people will not say good-bye to
Hatred, war, and greed,
I fear that compassion cannot intercede.
Compassion's what all people in the world need."

That's what Santa sang to the missus,
And she--poor lady--started to cry.
Santa then repeated two stanzas
While gently wiping a tear from his eye.

"Wars rage on bringing suffering
All around the world. So sad.
Many folks follow autocrats.
Oh, I think the world's gone mad.

"If the people will not say good-bye to
Hatred, war, and greed,
I fear that compassion cannot intercede.
Compassion's what all people in the world need."

"I'm sorry, my dear," said Mrs. Claus,
"But your sad song is making me weep.
You have had a busy night.
Go lie down and get some sleep."

-by Bob B (12-28-24)

°Santa wrote his lyrics to a blues version of the melody to "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

The House has released an official report
On Matthew Gaetz, former member.
The special, unwanted Christmas gift
Was given to him this December.

Accused of having obstructed Congress
And violated House rules,
Gaetz apparently thinks that he
Can do no wrong and we are fools.

If you ask some members of Congress
To share the impression that they have had
Of Gaetz since they have gotten to know him,
They would say that he's a cad.

They learned that he paid thousands of dollars
For drug use and also for ***.
Can he deny the evidence?
I wonder if he paid with checks.

That isn't all, of course, for Gaetz's
Shocking list of infractions gets finer:
On top of everything else, he's been
Accused of having *** with a minor.

And this is the guy that Trump had wanted
To be AG! Not surprising,
For Trump would very likely think,
"Oh, he's merely womanizing."

Gaetz admits that he's sent "funds"
To women he has dated. I see.
Whatever he calls it, it sounds as though
He was paying for *** to me.

-by Bob B (12-26-24)

We will have a new president,
And no, it won't be Donald Trump.
Actually, it's Elon Musk--
Trump's newest sidekick-chump.

It's Elon Musk--the money man,
And one for whom Trump has the hots--
Who will be the one in charge.
Musk will now be calling the shots.

When you're the richest man on Earth,
You can do whatever you want.
Flash your money at Trump and you'll
Be his newest confidant.

The richest man on Earth can also
Use his money to threaten those
Who do not do his bidding or who,
Instead of ayes, will give him noes.

Interestingly, Elon Musk
Wasn't even born in the States
And legally couldn't run for office.
What kind of nonsense now awaits?

Privatization is his goal.
Social programs are under attack.
If he and his cronies get their way,
Consider how far they'll set us back.

Now that Musk is in Trump's ear,
Trump will be the titular head,
But President Musk without a doubt
Will be running the show instead.

Musk has wormed his way to the top;
The consequences could be huge.
I wonder how long their friendship will last
And which one of them is the other one's stooge.

-by Bob B (12-21-24)

Where was all the election fraud
That Trump declared was going on
As he vigorously campaigned
And as his battle lines were drawn?

Oh, I see: fraud occurs
In the event he does not win,
For IF Republicans should lose,
Fraud's the story that they spin.

After a vicious, nasty campaign
Of stirring up fear and employing deceit,
Trump has won a second term
With help from his buddies on easy street.

Once he is in office again,
We will see an escalation
Of his being able to get his way
Through vengeance and intimidation.

He and his crony Elon Musk,
Who has become his partner in crime,
Are ramping up the threats already.
So here's a Trumpian nursery rhyme:

Donnie Trumpy, pudding and pie,
Wants his way or else he'll cry.
Watch him as he flouts our laws;
How much damage will he cause?

-by Bob B (12-19-24)

When you were a child, did you
Believe in Santa Claus? If so,
Did you ever doubt his actions?
Or was that far too long ago?

Did you wonder how the man
Could know which kids were naughty or nice,
Or how he could give gifts to so many
Kids in the world and be so precise?

It's like today: a lot of people
Find no fault with Trump's absurd
Policies and promises
And never attempt to question his word.

They do not think his tariff plans
Will have a negative effect
On the nation's economy,
Which could easily be wrecked.

They don't consider how mass deportations
Of millions of people living here hurts
ALL of us, including extremist
Americans with whom Trump flirts.

They can't imagine how the crackpots
That he appoints to his admin team
Will put us in danger as they support
His anti-rule-of-law regime.

They don't even react when Trump
Thumbs his nose at rules and laws.
Yes, a lot of adults--it appears--
Still believe in Santa Claus.

-by Bob B (12-10-24)

So President Biden pardoned Hunter.
Of course, he was attacked--
Especially by the Right that had
To scream and overreact.

"Corrupt!" they called him. They said he had
Abused his power. Oh, no!
Have they forgotten what Trump had done
Just a few years ago?

Consider the REAL crooks that Trump
Pardoned and also set free.
No president has ever been
As corrupt as he.

Some of those he's pardoned are being
Given positions as well
In government, and yet Trump now
Screams to *******.

Trump has also said he will pardon
Insurrectionists, who
To him were merely patriots.
A warped point of view.

But Biden is favoring family,
Some people will say.
Trump did that before and still
Continues to do it today.

He says that Biden has weaponized
The DOJ. Oh, my!
Trump must learn to take the log
Out of his own eye.

His pick for future AG has
A hit list to carry out.
With Trump in his ear, who knows what
Nonsense will come about.

If you're upset with Biden now,
Get over it, and hurry.
After Trump's in office again,
You'll have a bigger worry.

-by Bob B (12-3-24)

This is the tale of the gumyocho bird.
It had two heads, which would suggest
That IF two heads are better than one,
The gumyocho bird should have been blessed.

But it had two personalities.
Each head thought it was always right,
And so, as you can surely surmise,
The bird's two heads would constantly fight.

One day while one head was asleep,
The other head, an herbivore,
Feasted on luscious fruits and flowers
Until its stomach could take no more.

When the other head woke up,
Its body was feeling indigestion.
Food sounded good, but it was so full
That eating was certainly out of the question.

The head--so angry, resentful, and bitter--
Planned to get even, but not being shrewd,
When hungry again, it slyly led
The other head to some poisonous food.

The head then ate its fill with gusto.
You can imagine what happened next.
Since the two heads shared one body,
No one should be surprised or perplexed.

Before dying, the vengeful head
Realized the mistake it had made
And hoped a compassionate buddha would feel
Pity for it and come to its aid.

Transported to an awakened realm,
The bird tells its story for our sake,
To help us see the repercussions
That come from decisions that all of us make.

Listen to the gumyocho bird.
It has a relevant story to tell:
When we’re hurtful to other people,
We're hurtful to ourselves as well.

-by Bob B (11-24-24)

The spider spins its silky web,
Carefully constructing its trap.
Then it sits and waits for its prey
To figuratively land in its lap.

Patiently, it waits and waits.
It hopes an unsuspecting fly
Will dart into its fibrous silk
Where it will then bid life good-bye.

The web shakes. Aha! A victim!
Very aware of the struggling shape,
The spider rushes to nab the creature,
For whom there will be no escape.

After injecting the fly with venom,
Then it quickly and deftly bestrides
Its helpless and now paralyzed victim.
The venom will liquify its insides.

The spider also wraps its capture.
Soon the sneaky spiderweb spinner
Will hungrily **** out every bit
Of liquified parts of the fly for dinner.

Of course, not all spiders spin webs.
Some just sit and patiently wait
For their prey to wander by.
Then they pounce and seal its fate.

So who's the spider? Vladimir Putin.
Its prey? Americans who pretend
That Putin is NOT our adversary,
But, instead, a trustworthy friend.

-by Bob B (11-22-24)

This is NOT the time to give up.
To throw in the cards wouldn't be wise.
In order to save our democracy,
People, we've got to mobilize!

Medicare and social security:
Watch them fade before your eyes.
Protect the benefits we have earned.
People, we've got to mobilize!

People's rights are being threatened.
Discrimination is on the rise.
The wolf is knocking on the door.
People, we've got to mobilize!

****** autonomy
Of women is threatened by those who devise
Draconian laws that are killing mothers.
People, we've got to mobilize!

Our health will be in serious danger
By those who want to legitimize
Wild and crazy conspiracy theories.
People, we've got to mobilize!

Look at the suffering that's caused
By lawmakers who demonize
Our immigrant community.
People, we've got to mobilize!

Yes, at times there is too much
Over which to agonize,
So vote, march, write, make calls!
People, we've got to mobilize!

You feel the cards are stacked against you?
Remember: keep your eyes on the prize.
They will try to beat you down.
People, we've got to mobilize!

-by Bob B (11-21-24)

The MAGA-monster reared his head
To see how far his venom would spread.
"How dare they defy me!" he loudly exclaimed.
His hatred and anger could never be tamed.
Whether he told the truth or lied,
Whatever he said could not be defied.
If you chose to disagree,
His enemy was what you would be.
Loyalty was a major concern;
Those who withheld it were those he would spurn.

"I will show 'em!" he loudly roared.
His face turned orange as he brandished his sword.
His sycophantic subjects drew near,
Obsequiously kowtowing in fear.
He didn't care if someone should suffer.
His other concern: to take care of his fluffer--
One of the slimiest toadies around,
Who made the country his new battleground.
The two of them, salaciously smiling,
Had looks on their faces, oddly beguiling.

The monster's coffers were filled to the brim.
EVERYTHING was all about HIM.
He gave the semblance of caring, but no,
His woeful act was all bluster and show.
In other lands, to get more support,
He looked for other monsters to court.
Urged on by callous and heartless trolls
Who helped him achieve his nefarious goals,
The monster displayed an ego that grew
Taller than buildings on Fifth Avenue.

Where were the heroes who were not afraid
To challenge the monster and come to our aid?
Where were the champions, so brave and so deft,
To fight him from both his right and his left?
The MAGA-monster wielded his power
To make all the people around him cower.
A nation once full of hope and freedom
Had turned into an all-about-me-dom.
The selfish, contemptible, carrot-topped,
And cruel monster had to be stopped.

(End of Part 1)

-by Bob B (11-19-24)

Thanks to people who didn't vote
For putting us all in the mess we're in.
Thanks to those who were uninformed
For making sure that Trump would win.

A number of voters who took to the polls
Did us all a disservice because,
For one thing, a lot of them didn't
Even know what a tariff was.

For some, the word "autocrat"
Was not in their vocabulary.
A lot of those people voted for Trump.
Frankly, that is downright scary.

And even though in history classes
We have studied the past, it seems
That many people have forgotten
Or still don’t know what “fascism” means.

There were voters who said they'd never
Vote for a woman, and so they chose
To cast their vote for Donald Trump
To be a part of the party of bros.

To voters who cast a protest vote,
Now are you satisfied?
Do you see what happens when
Common sense and anger collide?

Of course, some just like the man.
They like Trump for his tough guy stance.
Watch as he and Elon Musk
Carry out their bro-romance.

A lot of people were clueless about
How the Biden administration
Played a substantial role in helping
Americans across our nation.

And so, we are stuck with a man
Who'll do his best to cater to
Extremists and wackos everywhere.
The damage will be hard to undo.

-by Bob B (11-18-24)

Trump's picks for his Cabinet
Are in-your-face kinds of picks.
It's obvious from what he's doing
That he is up to his old tricks.

He doesn't want the FBI
To be involved in the nominees' vetting,
Which Democrats and conscientious
Republicans find very upsetting.

For Secretary of Defense,
Pete Hegseth, a veteran who
Displays as part of his body art
A white supremacist tattoo?

Tulsi Gabbard as DNI°
Who couldn't pass a background check
Because she's compromised by Russia?
Trump's feelings: What the heck?

Matt Gaetz as Attorney General--
A grifter and a trouble-maker
Accused of ***-trafficking?
For Trump that's NOT a deal breaker.

Hegseth, Gabbard, and Gaetz are all
Deeply unfit for such positions.
A competent president wouldn't
Select them under any conditions.

It’s almost as if in making his choices
Trump is trying to deride
All of us by asking himself,
"Who is the most unqualified?"

Will Republicans cave in
To pressure from Trump or show some spine
And tell him no when he attempts
To sidestep rules and cross the line?

-by Bob B (11-16-24)

°Director of National Intelligence

Americans have made a decision.
Why did they decide
To put someone into office who
Will take them for a ride?

They elected a man so full
Of vengeance and desperation
That his campaign was principally
Lies and misinformation.

He pandered to the people's worries--
Worries that he created
By turning people against the folks
That he has deprecated.

He won't focus on key issues;
No, those he ignores.
He would rather perpetuate
Hateful culture wars.

Islamo-, trans-, and homophobia
Will now be on the rise
As players in Trump's administration
Begin to mobilize

Racist stooges surrounding him
Will always be in his ear,
Chipping away at human rights
And constantly stoking fear.

The deportation of immigrants
He says is first on his list
Of things to do, for he is such
A heartless nativist.

Loyalty above all else
Is what he always demands.
With autocrats all over the world,
He'll be shaking hands.

We’ve all seen that Trump's whole world
Is strictly quid pro quo.
With Elon Musk so tight with him,
Will Musk be running the show?

With no more guardrails to keep Trump in line,
He'll FURTHER disunite
Americans, and that will be
Much to Putin's delight.

I'm glad I wasn't complicit in choosing
One of the vilest of men
To take a seat in the Oval Office
And wreck the country again.

-by Bob B (11-13-24)

Beware of populist demagogues.
Don't let them be misunderstood:
They build their popularity
Without promoting the public good.

They pander to passions and prejudice
And also hold reason and truth in contempt.
From all accountability
Demagogues want to remain exempt.

They are masters of the masses
And try to tear down norm after norm.
Using tricks to betray the people,
They are experts at how to perform.

Using their popular support,
They undermine our institutions.
Swindling us through sophistry,
They stand firm in their resolutions.

Wearing contempt that they invite
As a badge of honor, they hope
That no one scrutinizes them
Or puts them under a microscope.

Notice their quest for unrestrained power,
Their hunger for vengeance, their thirst for control.
Support for ideas that violate
The rights of others is often their goal.

Controlling the hearts and minds of the people,
They want you to think that they are friends.
Then they leverage your support
For their own political ends.

It's scary to think that Americans
Could eagerly cast their vote in a fog,
Electing a dangerous person who is
Clearly a populist demagogue.

-by Bob B (11-9-24)

°Inspired by the writings of Dani Rudrik, Eli Merritt, and Emily Pears

Cry, beloved country,
For what we fear will come.
A bleak, uncertain future
Leaves us feeling numb.

Weep about the darkness
That's crept into our day
As fear and hate extinguish
The torch that guides our way.

Mourn the loss of judgment
At dark times such as this.
For far too many people,
Ignorance is bliss.

Grieve the loss of hope
That many of us had known.
Despair has now replaced it,
And hearts have turned to stone.

Lament the death of knowledge
That always has been needed
To help ensure that lessons
Of history are heeded.

Bewail the sad misfortune
That empathy's now gone,
While those who deeply suffer
Are treated with a yawn.

Cry, beloved country.
Was ALL of this our fate?
Can we turn the tide,
Or might it be too late?

-by Bob B (11-7-24)

Listen to this: We all know
That Vladimir Putin is not our friend.
When you hear what he's doing right now,
Every hair should stand on end.

Iran and North Korea have both
Assisted in Putin's bombing campaign.
Now North Korean troops
Are helping Russia to fight in Ukraine!

Putin also asked the owner
Of Starlink Satellite if he'd
Not let it be activated
Over Taiwan. The owner agreed.

Who is the owner? Elon Musk,
Who we know has also had
Secret communications with Putin.
Are you upset? At least a tad?

Putin said that his request
Was a favor to China. Oh, well.
But there is more. It is going
To make you wonder, "What the hell?"

Putin asked Musk NOT to let
Ukraine access his satellite
Over the Black Sea area
Where Russia hoped to exert its might.

Musk has contracts with NASA and with
The DOD. Wouldn't you bet
That his close ties with Putin make him
A national security threat?

We've watched as he's turned Twitter into
A huge propaganda machine.
His connections with Trump and Putin
Show which way his loyalties lean.

We have a serious problem here.
Choose to agree or disagree,
But someone assisting our adversaries
Sounds a lot like a traitor to me.

-by Bob B (11-5-24)

(Clap) One, two, three, four…

Come on, put on your shoes and socks
And traipse on down to the ballot box
If you haven't voted yet.
Do it now before you forget.
Please, however, heed my advice:
Don't be sneaky and try to vote twice.
We know that some voters cast
Second votes for Trump in the past.

Clap your hands and stamp your feet!
Let's all try to stay upbeat!

We are lucky we can vote.
Let's all keep that right afloat.
This election's consequential;
That means that your vote's essential.
Do not fall for someone who
Lies until his face is blue.
How can anybody laud
A liar who screams "Election fraud!"?

Clap your hands and stamp your feet!
Let's all try to stay upbeat!

Voting right means voting smart;
Vote with both your head and heart.
The one to vote for should be clear:
One talks freedom; the other talks fear.
Her I'll gladly get behind.
He is clearly losing his mind.
Let's all hope the winner will be
The one who'll save democracy.

Clap your hands and stamp your feet!
Let's all try to stay upbeat!

-by Bob B (11-4-24)

At a campaign rally,
Trying to be Mr. Hot,
Trump said HE'LL protect women
Whether they like it or not.

Protect women? Hmmm.
Eight years ago we heard
Trump disparaging women.
Every salacious word!

In dealing with women, he said,
Your stardom's easy to flaunt.
Grab their private parts
And do whatever you want.

Has he protected women
Who died from lack of care
Due to abortion bans
Cropping up everywhere?

How about when he was
A predator on the loose
And faces allegations
Of ****** abuse?

I can't imagine women
Wanting Trump's "protection"
Or EVEN casting a vote
For him in any election.

-by Bob B  (11-3-24)

After high school graduation
In May 2023,
Eighteen-year-old Nevaeh Crain
Discovered she was a mother-to-be.

A mother-to-be in Texas, however,
Is no longer a top priority,
For her body turns into something
Over which she has no authority.

Excited about the pregnancy,
Nevaeh--vibrant, young, and strong--
Was doing well until the day
Of her baby shower, when something went wrong.

She grew ill and had to go
To the hospital. Time number one.
They gave her antibiotics and sent
Her home; her troubles had barely begun.

Back to the hospital she went
Writhing in pain. That is when
They said she had a UTI
And sent her home with some meds again.

Nevaeh returned to the hospital.
A miscarriage was suspected.
However, they couldn't act until
No fetal heartbeat was detected.

Nevaeh's mother panicked when seeing
Her daughter's ****** hospital gown.
Things grew worse as sepsis started
To shut Nevaeh's organs down.

Delayed miscarriage treatment
Meant the untimely and sad demise
Of young Nevaeh Crain who suffered
And died before her mother's eyes.

Again, doctors in Texas are fearing
Prosecution for doing what's right--
For giving needed care to women,
On whom strict laws have cast a blight.

Do not listen to lawmakers
Who push their agenda with lies and distortion.
Abortion bans EVEN **** women
Who normally wouldn't have an abortion.

-by Bob B (11-2-24)

If Trump wins a second term,
Apparently, he has a plan
To make the multi-billionaire
Elon Musk his number-one man.

Musk in a Cabinet-level position?
People might say, "No big deal."
Think about the consequences.
Come on, people! Let's get real!

The following is one idea
That Elon Musk is recommending:
Cut the federal government.
Good-bye, discretionary spending!

To carry out his plan we must
Expect a hardship, he adds. But hey!
That is very easy for
A billionaire like him to say.

Many leading economists
Who hear Trump's plans tend to agree
That his proposals would really crash
Our current booming economy.

Musk with all his secret ties
To Vladimir Putin is also suspicious.
No wonder his election support
For Trump has been so overambitious.

Republicans will do away,
With needed regulations and let
All of us see the removal of
Our basic social safety net.

Trump and his billionaire amigos
Think their schemes will be a plus.
Maybe it's good for lining their pockets
But NOT good for the rest of us.

-by Bob B (11-1-24)

Josseli Barnica was a young mother
Who unfortunately became
The victim of laws in Texas denying
Women their rights. Remember her name.

This happened in 2021,
Even before the overturning
Of Roe v. Wade, and all of us
Should find Josseli's story concerning.

The 28-year-old pregnant mother,
Thrilled to be having child number two,
Learned that she was miscarrying--
Suddenly, and out of the blue.

Occurring shortly after Texas
Had passed strict abortion bans,
The incident reminds us that life
Doesn't always heed our plans.

The doctors faced a dilemma here.
The matter should have been routine,
But the new abortion laws
Made it a crime to intervene.

They said they wanted to help the patient
But told her that their hands were tied.
Because of their delay in treatment,
The young mother, Josseli, died.

Sepsis had taken the mother's life.
Abortion bans can sadly make
Pregnancies quite dangerous,
And many women's lives are at stake.

Lawmakers, are you happy now?
You SHOULD have been aware of the flaws
In your reckless attempts to control
Women with your draconian laws!

-by Bob B (10-31-24)

How often throughout our history
When it was growing clear
That danger approached did people say
"It couldn't happen here"?

Could Russians imagine atrocities
That Stalin would engineer?
How many of them might have thought
"It couldn't happen here"?

When ******'s concentration camps
Started to appear,
How many Germans also insisted
"It couldn't happen here"?

Chairman Mao had policies
So vile, cruel and severe
That millions died. How many had said
"It couldn't happen here"?

Pol *** with his Killing Fields
Caused millions to shed a tear.
Had Cambodians also thought
"It couldn't happen here"?

Complacency is dangerous
When there are reasons to fear
That tyranny is possible,
For it could happen here!

-by Bob B (10-29-24)

Some folks don't like Harris's giggle;
Some folks do not like her laugh.
Some don't like what people say
When they speak on her behalf.

Some, of course, don’t like the fact
That she's a Democrat. Oh, my!
And some would never cast their vote
For her because she's not a guy!

Some don't like her stance on women's
Reproductive rights and choice.
There are those who say they can't
Stand to listen to her voice.

And, of course, there are many
Who think that it is quite all right
To say that they would never vote
For her because she isn't White.

When I hear such stupid, racist,
Misogynistic reasons, I'll stress--
And many folks must also agree--
That all of that is pure BS!

They'd rather vote for a man, who,
When asked difficult questions, balks?
They'd VOTE for a man who sounds just like
A racist and fascist when he talks?

A man who'll chase down his opponents?
(We all know he's keeping tallies.)
Whose speakers belittle Puerto Ricans
When speaking at his campaign rallies?

Dehumanizing immigrants
In general is Trump's M.O.
You think he will not go any lower?
Just WATCH! You'll see how low he'll go.

Even if a person doesn't
Agree with Harris one hundred percent,
How could anyone not think that
She'd be a better president?

Protecting our democracy:
That's the pivotal issue here.
Should people vote for her or him?
The answer should be very clear.

-by Bob B (10-28-24)

Fighting for our freedoms is
A goal within our reach.
That's a major focus when
Michelle gives a speech.°

If she sings your praises, then
That is something each
And everyone should cherish when
Michelle gives a speech.

If YOU embrace important thoughts
That speakers want to teach,
Then you'll appreciate it when
Michelle gives a speech.

Rightly she unmasks the man
The House did twice impeach.
The words are blunt and lucid when
Michelle gives a speech.

She SIMPLY calls it what it is
And doesn't have to preach.
Each word hits the target when
Michelle gives a speech.

Trump's thick barrier of lies
Is what her words can breach.
Everyone should listen when
Michelle gives a speech.

Some folks always rant and rave
And shout and shriek and screech.
However, you won't hear that when
Michelle gives a speech.

If you've never heard her speak,
Then you I do beseech
To take the time to hear her when
Michelle gives a speech.

-by Bob B (10-27-24)

°Referring to Michelle Obama's speech at the Harris rally in Kalamazoo, MI, on 10-26-24

So Mike Johnson° and Mitch McConnell°°
Are angry with Harris, for she
Called Donald Trump a fascist.
Oh, my goodness me!

Let's just say there COULD be a reason
Why she went out on a limb:
She was just agreeing with
People who'd worked with him.

General Kelly°°° and General Milley°°°°
Expressed a condemnation
Directed at Trump. They said he was
A dangerous threat to this nation.

Perhaps there is another reason
Why she would concur.
But first, let's look at some of the things
That Trump has said about her:

He has called her a communist,
A fascist and Marxist and still
Continues to say that she is stupid
And also mentally ill.

When Trump criticizes others--
Something he'll often do--
His words reflect aspects of
Himself. That's so true!

Frankly, after hearing and seeing
All he's said and done,
If either of the two were a fascist,
HE would be the one.

Mike Johnson and Mitch McConnell
Ought to open their eyes
To see how they hurt America
By spreading MAGA lies.

-by Bob B (10-26-24)

°Current speaker of the House
°°Senate minority leader
°°°Former White House chief of staff
°°°°Former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

If I were the president,
Would it really be okay
To go after my opponents
By weaponizing the DOJ?

If I said that I'd shut down
Papers or networks reporting news
That made me feel uncomfortable
Because they criticized my views;

Or that I'd want to terminate
Parts of the U.S. Constitution;
Or that certain peoples are
Animals, or gene pollution;

Or that I'd use the military
Against American citizens here;
Wouldn't you agree that my
Ideas would be cruelly severe?

What if I said that there would be
A bloodbath after the fall elections;
That my political enemies
Would be locked up per my directions;

That I would want to execute
Former joint chiefs of staff
(Of course, I'd let appointed henchmen
Do it all on my behalf);

Or that I wished my generals
Would be much more like ******'s? Say what?
Then wouldn't you find my message
To be alarmingly clear-cut?

I'd be called a fascist--yes,
If all of the above were true.
And since Trump has promised it all,
He would have to be one, too.

When people say he doesn't sound
At all like a fascist, I'm thunderstruck.
If something walks and flies and quacks
And looks like a duck, it's a duck!

-by Bob B (10-24-24)

(This poem could be sung to the melody of Cole Porter's song "You're the Top" from ANYTHING GOES.)

The fear's gigantic;
I'm getting frantic.
Although it MIGHT make some folks squirm,
My thoughts about this are really firm:
There can't be a second term.
It's worth repeating;
I'm not retreating,
For I know there's a lot at stake.
And if my ramble
Is worth the gamble,
I can't help saying
Which choice I'd make.

He's a mess.
He's a real loser.
He's a mess.
He's a sunken cruiser.
He's a song that goes on and on; who knows how long?
He's a rotten apple,
A rusty scapple,
A deal gone wrong.

He's a car
That has lost its power.
He's a jar
Full of food that's sour.
He's a popped balloon, a sick cartoon, and yes,
You can't help but see how truly
He's a mess!

He's a mess.
He is Batman's Joker.
He's a grade--
Worse than mediocre.
He's a cloudy day that's so cold and gray in spring.
He is Putin's BFF,
Hannibal Lecter's chef,
A ding-a-ling!

He's the score
Of the team that's losing.
He's a joke
That is not amusing.
So much separates the candidates. I'll stress:
One should NEVER vote for Trump 'cause
He's a mess!

-by Bob B (10-19-24)

This is a tale of a hustler
And also regrettably how
TV created "a monster"
That we are stuck with right now.

The show was called "The Apprentice,"
And it was largely to blame
For turning a person called Trump
Into a household name.

They claimed that he was inventive
And super successful as well.
The truth, however, came out
And shot that assumption to hell.

We have to ask if it's really
And truly a mark of success
If one goes bankrupt six times.
Of COURSE NOT would be my guess.

Marketers for the series
Did irreversible harm
With the false image they made
Of Trump: no shot in the arm!

He is just an illusion--
One in which to exult--
And all that he's done is become
A con artist leading a cult.

Marketer John D Miller
Deeply regrets what was done.
He says Trump's bad for the country
And ought to be one we should shun.

This tale has a dire warning:
Someone you give a green light to--
Someone who doesn't deserve it--
Maybe will come back and bite you.

-by Bob B (10-18-24)

"Why did Mommie have to die?"
Asks a child? The answer, in short,
Is because of a lousy decision
Made by the country's highest court.

Since the 2022
Overturning of Roe v. Wade,
The Court has caused chaos and panic,
For women and doctors are afraid.

Not in every state, however--
Only in states that have curtailed
Women's rights. And still we see
New restrictions being unveiled.

When doctors are even afraid to treat
Miscarriages for fear
That they'll be prosecuted, well,
We have a real problem here.

Lack of prompt and urgent attention,
Can lead to sepsis, and women have died.
Many women refuse to seek help
For fear of being vilified.

The huge uncertainty about
Reproductive access has led
Some women who wanted children
To choose sterilization instead.

A number of states with very strict
Abortion bans have made provisions
For exceptions; fear, however,
Of criminal charges affects decisions.

Some women are willing to travel
To other states for medical care.
Other women cannot afford it,
Or they are scared and do not dare.

There's TOO much confusion and misinformation.
Many women seek out a bit
Of help on Reddit and TikTok, but
Do we know if the info's legit?

Here's an idea: if WE know that
An aborted fetus can live on its own,
Then "pro-lifers" can raise the child
And leave the mothers and doctors alone!

-by Bob B (10-17-24)

As Trump becomes more demented,
We know what would happen should he
Win a second term: the person
Running the country would be the VP.

JD Vance, who's held an elected
Office for only a very short time,
Would do his best to fully dismantle
The government with his partner in crime.

Vance, along with others, would have
Our institutions "pulled to pieces."
The more we hear him talk, the more
His ugly extremism increases.

Purge the federal government
Of secular leaders, he has said,
And fill all the positions with
Christian nationalists instead.

Tech leaders such as Musk
Should be planning our future as well,
He feels. And powerful leaders must also
Be ruthless. To hell with the freedom bell!

Freedom and democracy
Are incompatible, he claims.
Enforcing HIS idea of
Morality is one of his aims.

What the majority of people
Feel is not important to Vance.
Strong leaders impose their will--
An antidemocratic stance!

Vance supports abortion bans.
For him, of course, it goes without saying.
It wouldn't surprise me if he said that God
Talked to him when he was praying.

This is just a smattering
Of all the damage that Vance could do.
If he pulled it off, it would
Be a devastating coup.

-by Bob B (10-16-24)

D.T.

THIS playbook chapter is
Extremely vital for maintaining
Competitive advantages
When you happen to be campaigning.

Create chaos--the more, the better.
That is one of my winning solutions.
Sow discord and make supporters
Distrust the country's institutions.

Get supporters riled up.
That's NOT a difficult thing to do.
Violence is fine--just be
Certain it's not directed at you.

To rile up people, you have to lie.
Lying is the name of the game.
You can make a lasting impression
If you're crafty and have no shame.

Avoid the discussion of policies
Or real solutions, as much as you can.
Merely say that you will fix
The country because you have a plan.

Develop the art of name calling
And bad-mouthing; THOSE are the kinds
Of things you can do to make distaste
Stick in your supporters' minds.

Make the people fearful of others;
Then your fans will stand by your side.
They won't even know that they're
Being taken for a ride.

Draw support from every extremist
Group that's out there if you can--
Militant groups, nativists,
Christian nationalists, the ****.

Try to get support from "friends"
In other countries. You can get
Tons of help as they spread lies
All across the Internet.

Don't let accurate information
Regarding your health and mental state
Get into the hands of the public.
My favorite word is obfuscate!

Being "nice" just doesn't cut it;
Be as obnoxious as you can be.
You DON"T want folks to think you're weak.
Rudeness is great; take it from me.

So if you want to win an election,
You merely have to follow my lead.
Remember: if you lose the race,
Never, never, never concede.

-by Bob B (10-15-24)

IF a warning falls on deaf ears,
Does it make a sound?
If people are led astray, can they
Eventually come round?

The more Trump talks, the more we can
See a mental decline.
We can also see that he
Has truly crossed the line.

He says the country is overrun
By criminals Brown and Black.
So people of color and immigrants
Are under constant attack.

Execution or deportation
Are two parts of his plan--
And with the help of the military!
Oh, he's a dangerous man.

Never before has America
Faced such a dire threat.
And people who fear Trump's rhetoric
Have reason to be upset.

Many disenchanted people
Are looking for someone to hate.
As Trump hands them scapegoats, they're
Willing to take the bait.

"Evil" people "infect" this country.
That is what he claims.
Immigrants and Democrats
Are the ones he blames.

The race science of Naziism
Clearly comes out in his speeches.
War zones, "illegals," and migrant crime:
That is what he preaches.

Experts have warned us what a second
Term for Trump would mean:
A scary nation, the likes of which
Here we've never seen.

-by Bob B (10-14-24)

When an election affects you directly,
And human rights are clearly at stake,
You have a very good reason to worry:
The situation is make or break.

When voters' decisions are swayed by untruths
Prejudice, or even the curse
Of hard-to-swallow religious dogma,
Such decisions are truly perverse.

When people look at their ballots and say
"THAT issue doesn't affect me at all,"
They do not care that other people
Might be up against a wall.

When people feel complacent and comfy
In their own lives and do not try
To see the bigger picture, they often
Ignore an issue and turn a blind eye.

However, when voters think about others
And say, "This ISN'T just about me,"
Then their choices truly affect
The greater good of humanity.

-by Bob B (10-12-24)

"Where be these enemies?"
Asks the Prince. Can he defuse
The bitter, violent feud between
The Capulets and the Montagues?

How sad it is when we observe
How human hatred seems here to stay,
And years and years of antidotes
Of love aren't able to wash it away!

And when we see the tactics used
By some to make America great,
We see the consequences of
The "scourge that's laid upon [our] hate."

The cruel dehumanization of people
Does not bring the people together.
It merely unites a certain group,
Or angry mob--birds of a feather.

The misrepresentation of facts--
Of pulling the wool over people's eyes--
Only perpetuates all the hatred
With a cacophony of lies.

By seeking enemies constantly
In other people, we tend to forget
That "all are punished" because there is
A deeper, darker, more dangerous threat.

"Where be these enemies?"
That's the question we have to pose.
And so it's hatred within our hearts?
There, you've hit it on the nose!

-by Bob B (10-11-24)

A second term of Donald Trump
Would be a nightmare, to say the least.
Here are potential team members
Now that he's unleashed the beast:

Stephen Miller

A policy adviser to Trump…
Crafted border separation…
A white nationalist at heart…
Massive voter fraud his fixation…

RFK Jr.

Blamed Bill Gates for tracking chips…
Bioweapons from DNA?...
Vaccine conspiracy theorist…
Total nutjob! What more can I say?

Kash Patel

Trump loyalist par excellence…
Foot soldier for Donald Trump…
Threatens revenge against Trump's critics…
Trump commands, Patel will jump!

Russell Vought

Architect of the terrifying
Project 2025…
Withheld aid from Ukraine…
Keeps MAGA nonsense alive…

Founder of think tanks for Donald Trump…
Is fine with Christian nationalism
And presidential power over
The courts…. That's called despotism.

Richard Grenell

Part of the "Stop the Steal" effort…
Super MAGA through and through…
Wants government offices
Filled with MAGA loyalists, too…

Flirted while in Germany
With the ascendant German far right…
Looks for authoritarian leaders
With whom Trump can closely unite…

Steve Bannon

Believes you completely destroy opponents…
Strongly in favor of mass deportations…
Our institutions must be destroyed:
Another one of his recommendations…

Vivek Ramaswamy

Believes the "Great Replacement" conspiracy
And other crazy theories as well…
A son of immigrants, he also pushes
Nativist bigotry. What the hell?

Jeffrey Clark

Thinks the president should have
Power over prosecutions…
Election-related racketeering:
One more of his contributions…

__

This is only a partial list
Of dangerous people lining up
To bow down to Donald Trump,
Kiss his ring, and drink from his cup.

-by Bob B (10-10-24)

We hear that Trump enjoys keeping
In touch with his ***** buddy,
Vladimir Putin; in fact, he could be
Putin's understudy.

Their commonalities are clear--
These two peas in a pod.
Cut from the same piece of cloth,
Both pretend to be God.

Both of them disdain opponents;
Both want total control;
Both of them are leading the people
Down a rabbit hole.

Putin will find a way to jail
Whomever he sees as a threat.
He's had a few of his critics killed;
Trump hasn't--at least not yet.

Birds of a feather flock together;
So the saying goes.
When it comes to gaslighting,
Putin and Trump are pros.

No one's surprised why Trump is for
Cutting off aid to Ukraine,
For HE knows very well that its
Loss is Putin's gain.

Why Putin meddles in our elections
Is obvious, for he
Wants his pal in the White House again--
Yes, his fellow pea.

Both of them have taken the art
Of lying to greater heights.
Both of them are not averse
To trampling on our rights.

Russia is stuck with Putin until
The tyrant meets his end.
But we have the choice at the ballot box
To stop Putin's friend.

-by Bob B (10-8-24)

JD Vance, what a performance!°
Yes, you are a slick debater.
However, much of what you said
Shows that you're a fabricator.

Blaming all the problems that
America faces on Harris is wrong.
You're VERY good at one thing, though:
Stringing a lot of people along.

You criticize Harris for
Not effecting policy.
Did you forget that she is NOT
The president, but his VP?

When asked to give a solution for curbing
Gun violence, this is yours:
Making windows with thicker glass
And putting stronger locks on doors!

You STILL will not admit that Biden
Won the 2020 election!°°
You and the truth apparently
Suffer from a disconnection.

And you won't disavow the hoax
Of Springfield migrants eating pets.
Your lack of compassion for immigrants
Is about as bad as it gets.

You lied about your previous stance
On a nationwide abortion ban.
If people want a mini-Trump,
Well, Mr. Vance, you’re their man.

Hopefully, people saw through
Your slick and smarmy presentation.
I also hope that when they vote,
They know who'll truly help this nation.

-by Bob B (10-3-24)

°Referring to the Tim Walz/JD Vance vice presidential candidate debate
°°After the debate Vance made the ludicrous statement that Trump had indeed won the 2020 election!

The story below is just for fun--
Fiddle-de-dee and folderol.
But it has FIFTEEN spelling mistakes;
See if you can find them all.

           * * * * *

The steakholders got together
And poured over the company's books.
A certain member of the group
Was giving the others ***** looks.

You see, he'd been steeling from them
And had not been at all discrete.
After a few distractions, he said,
"My deer sirs, let's go eat.

"I don't mean to be callus, you see,
And there are concerns to bring to bare,
And though we must all tow the line,
With a bit of savoir faire,

"I have to say that this hole matter,
Is becoming quite a boar.
It greats on my nerves, to put it bluntly.
My head is throbbing; my heart is soar.

"All of us are wasting our time
Going over the books this way.
My soul desire would be that we
Could do this on some other day.

"You are all so smart, so clever,
So wise and astute, and SO judicious!"
The others, however, were on to him;
His words made them more suspicious.

One of the things that gave him away--
Something that ended up being so telling--
Was, along with his indiscretion,
The careless criminal's horrible spelling!

They remained there stationery.
One had already called the police,
Who soon arrived and took the embezzler
To jail, so now the cheating will cease.

The moral of the story is
One that's obvious, short, and sweet:
Don't give empty complements,
Watch your spelling, and DO NOT CHEAT!

-by Bob B (10-2-24)

I'm SO tired--so VERY tired--
Of what the Right is doing.
I'm tired of crooked strategies--
The nonsense always brewing.

We haven't even voted yet,
And yet they're planning cases
To fight upcoming election results
In courts in various places.

They've GLOMMED onto some far-right lies
Of rampant voter fraud;
Their talk of voter integrity
Is merely a façade.

They feel that there is no way that
Trump can be defeated
In a major election unless
Thousands of voters cheated!

Their baseless allegations show
Their sorry desperation.
May one more nail go into their coffins
With every accusation!

-by Bob B (9-29-24)

Malignant narcissists are dangerous people
With no concern for others—not a bit!
They require constant admiration.
If things don't go their way, they have a fit.

It’s a personality disorder,
And those who suffer from it have a dearth
Of sympathetic feelings and compassion
And have inflated concepts of self-worth.

They derive great pleasure when they lie
To get all that they want and have no shame
Employing any means on earth to have
Control of others, power, wealth, or fame.

Paranoid, they often say that they
Are being persecuted without proof.
Distancing themselves from social standards,
They tend to be standoffish, cold, aloof.

They can be obnoxiously aggressive,
And since they are so selfish, they, of course,
Eagerly abuse and hurt their victims,
And do it with no feelings of remorse.

You MUST have noticed that these traits appear
In someone who is hoping he will be
Living once again inside the White House.
The characteristics fit him to a T!

-by Bob B (9-26-24)