Face it: we often think out loud.
But it's not very statesmanlike
When you are a president
To do it when speaking into a mic.

The president's words have repercussions
At home and around the world as well.
Does Trump always mean what he says?
It's sometimes difficult to tell.

To say that Iraq has no sovereignty,
That we should have taken the oil and split,
Is totally irresponsible.
The president seems to care not a whit.

Imagine how the Iraqis feel.
It only confirms what many perceive
To be the reason for our presence
Over there: to gut them and leave.

Imagine the potential harm
Such words can do to Americans there.
Trump, what is going on
Underneath all that hair?

- by Bob B (1-27-17)

For many months people asked,
"With Trump as president, what could go wrong?"
Well, a lot. It's already started,
And it hasn't taken very long.

Gag orders have been imposed
On various agencies, saying "Whoa!"
Not only to our freedom of speech,
But also to our right to know.

Cutting the flow of information
Of agencies such as the EPA°
Is a frightening sign and something
We must address straightaway.

It's ONE thing for Trump not to agree
With an agency's recommendations;
It's ANOTHER thing altogether
To silence the voices of organizations.

To silence agencies meant to protect
Our quality of life? Shame! Shame!
Whose voice will he stifle next?
At which right will he next take aim?

An authoritarian country wants
Its people to live in ignorance and fear
By limiting what people can say,
By limiting what people can hear.

A growing number of angry voices
Will shout the command: "For'd, harch!"
If we care about our rights,
There might have to be another march.

- by Bob B (1-25-17)

°Environmental Protection Agency.
The Department of the Interior and
the Department of Agriculture were
also affected.
°°24 hours after the gag order was
issued, it was rescinded. Pressure
and public protest work.

Trump STILL can't stand the thought
That Clinton won the popular vote.
In efforts to cause a major distraction,
He's keeping the voting fraud rumor afloat.

Clinton received two point eight
Million more votes than he--
Votes from voters physically present
Or votes from those voting absentee.

He says that he has evidence
Of widespread fraud. We can surmise
That he has his "alternative facts"--
A handy euphemism for lies.

It's a preposterous, baseless claim,
A mere BELIEF that he maintains,
Another false conspiracy theory,
An insult to people who use their brains.

Voting fraud is an issue
That Trump loves to keep in his sights.
For him it's a very useful excuse
To go after voting rights.

If there was so much voting fraud,
The chances of which are very slim,
Does Trump ever wonder how many
Fraudulent votes went to him?

The more he whines, the more he harps--
He's even driving Republicans mad!--
The more he loses the smattering
Of credibility that he once had.

- by Bob B (1-24-17)

We eat soup with a knife.
We cut steak with a spoon;
The sun shines at night;
The stars come out at noon.

The earth has too few people.
Sugar makes you strong.
Giraffes have short necks;
Elephants' necks are long.

Glaciers are not melting;
Earth is growing cooler.
Thirteen inches make
A simple foot-long ruler.

Don't look at me
As though I'm totally cracked.
Each of the above
Is an alternative fact.  

Do you want to learn to be evasive,
Obnoxious, cynical, and highly abrasive?
I have the perfect teacher for you
To help you blow up an interview:

Kellyanne CONjob is her name.
An expert at the sidestepping game,
She will teach you to twist and turn
Answers to questions with no concern

For facts and truth. What do they matter
When you've got the gift of empty chatter?
She'll show you with great perfection
How to master the art of deflection.

Being sweet is one of her acts.
She loves to refer to "alternative facts"
To prove her points to the unwary.
Veracity is unnecessary.

Lies can provide great vitality
When you live in an alternate reality.
She will teach you to trick and deceive
With countless gimmicks hidden up her sleeve.

Learn how to blame the media when they
Say things you don't want them to say.
Some of her strategies might give offense,
But mainly in an Orwellian sense.

If you maintain a certain hostility
And think, "To hell with credibility!"
You could work for the president as well
Among the White House personnel.

- by Bob B (1-23-17)

They marched together; they marched strong,
With flags, signs, and banners waving.
They marched in sun, snow, and rain
To speak out for rights and causes worth saving.

The Women's March on Washington
Became a world phenomenon
Occurring in seven continents.
May the powerful memory live on!

Women, men, and children with
Determination undeterred
Peacefully rallied together,
Letting their mighty voices be heard.

Echoing through the cities' canyons
And filling city parks and squares,
Their voices loudly demanded that leaders
Listen to democracy's heirs.

When people's rights are under attack,
When greed-driven politicians
Bow to Wall Street and corporations,
Ignoring the struggling people's petitions,

The people then must raise their voices
And hope that their peaceful protest starts
A major shift in understanding--
A positive change in lawmakers' hearts.

The protesters clearly spoke:
We must protect democracy
From the threatening ravages
Of plutoc-, corpoc-, or kakistocracy.

Onward, marchers. Don't give up.
You have a voice; let it ring
From east to west, from north to south.
Sing out, people! Sing! Sing!

- by Bob B (1-22-17)

President Trump's first day
In office wouldn't allay your fears
If you've been worried about what we'll
Be seeing for the next four years.

Press Secretary Spicer,
Who's called upon to do Trump's bidding,
Had one major concern:
Crowd size! I'm not kidding!

Spicer castigated the media,
Saying that they had underreported
The size of Inauguration Day crowds.
The figures, he said, were greatly distorted.

Spicer insisted that Donald Trump's
Inauguration crowds had been
The largest that had ever witnessed
Such an event.^ Once again

Trump's insecurities
And hurt ego take front stage.
The media merely report the facts
And he flies into a rage.

Facts are facts: President Obama's
Numbers were greater. But NO big deal.
Instead of putting out a tweet,
Trump had Spicer deliver his spiel.

The numbers are not that important.
What's important is whether Trump can
Set aside his petty gripes.
Is that beyond the scope of the man?

- by Bob B (1-22-17)

^Spicer had said the following: "This was the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe." Just awkwardly worded, or intentionally vague?

Championing the highest principles
To which humanity can aspire,
You are the great idealist;
When there's a cause, you're on fire.

You're the "organization" person
Who fights for equal rights and fairness
For all people. You're the one
Who raises other people's awareness.

Your loyalty and fairness both
Bring in a lot of dividends,
For you tend to attract many
Loyal acquaintances and friends.

Being asked to do a task
Is seldom a real problem for you.
But heaven forbid should anyone
Try to tell you what to do.

You despise authoritarian
Demands; you hate pressure as well.
When you're pushed to act against
Your better judgment, you rebel.

But when you decide that a cause
Is worthwhile, then you give your all.
When criticized for your decisions,
Instead of budging, you stand tall.

You often find fascination
In things that might be odd or unique.
Your strong likes and dislikes can also
Bring to light your stubborn streak.

You're an independent thinker,
So current trends interest you little.
Because you are so independent,
Some people think you're noncommittal.

Your passion seems to be more directed
At causes, so without a doubt,
In your close relationships,
Your partners have trouble figuring you out.

Loving many people at once
Is so natural for you that
If your partner is insecure,
You often feel called on the mat.

And yet, when you are deeply in love,
Your passion can be inspirational.
People are attracted to you
Since you are so gravitational.

Your unpredictable nature might
Cause you to do the unexpected.
Be aware of the signs when
Your other half is feeling neglected.

A people-oriented person,
You don't care that much about wealth.
Watch out, for nervous disorders
Might adversely affect your health.

Restrictions on your self-expression
Can cause in you a violent reaction.
Working for the common good
Is what gives you satisfaction.

Since people are so important
You aren't always in the mood
To eat a lot; instead you find
That useful knowledge is the best food.

Always ready to change the world,
You are the humanitarian.
Be true to yourself, and you
Will prove that you're a true Aquarian.

- by Bob B (1-21-17)

(Sung to the melody of Frank Sinatra's "My Way")

And so, I'm standing here
To say an oath and pledge allegiance.
Though some will cry and jeer
And accuse me of malfeasance,

The fact that I can stand
Before you now in a tough-guy way
Proves that you can be like me
By doing things my way.

Yes, I've stiffed a few,
But that's my disposition.
That's what you have to do
To carry forth your mission.

I knew what I was doing;
I was acting in a sly way.
Just do what I tell you
And do things my way.

You might not like the things I say
Or what I do, but that's okay.
Celebs like me have it made.
Just don't drop the masquerade.
It's all the same; just play the game
And do things my way.

I've had three wives. So what!
I've had just two divorces.
The news? Don't watch that ****.
I've found better sources.

I didn't get this far
By choosing the just-get-by way.
Since life is dog eat dog
Just do things my way.

You never know who you can *****
Until you shift your point of view.
Remember: *****, before you're *******.
At times be crass; at times be lewd.
Make up the rules; treat them like fools
By doing things my way.

Yes, do things my way.

- by Bob B (1-19-17)

I dreamed there was an UN-inauguration.
Peeking through the clouds, the frowning sun
Cast its rays upon the crowds below,
Perplexing and confounding everyone.

Donald Trump walked onto the platform,
Adjusting with his hands his golden thatch.
In the bleachers sat his buddy Putin,
Wily smiling, the two a perfect match.

The National Mall was split right down the middle.
Less than half of the crowd was loudly cheering.
All the rest were unmistakably
More enthusiastic in their jeering.

All of a sudden, the dark clouds parted.
A pillar of light descended from above.
Everyone could see that spiraling downward
Was the image of an ivory dove.

The dove transformed into a real person.
There stood Hillary Clinton on the stage!
Trump, whose eyes were shooting darts of fire,
Flew into his usual Trumpish rage.

A thunderous voice shook the Capitol steps.
The startled people jumped when they heard "STOP!"
Everybody waited in suspense,
Wondering when the ball was going to drop.

“This nonsense can't go on!” thundered the voice.
“A slight change—call it a correction—
Must fix improprieties that hurt
The integrity of your last election.”

Angelic voices filled the wintry air
As shouts of anger turned to happy cheers.
Trump and friends sauntered off the platform.
Bitterly they wiped away their tears.

Kellyanne Conway, puffed up with hot air,
Swirled away like a deflating balloon.
General Flynn got down on all fours
And turned into a blabbering baboon.

Steve Bannon also underwent
A sudden transformation, quite befitting:
He turned into a snake and slithered away
Past the seat where Eric Trump was sitting.

Putin’s face showed great disappointment.
The crafty leader couldn't understand
How his plans had backfired. He joined Trump.
They walked off together, hand in hand.

A blissful light enveloped everybody.
That was when I woke up from my dream
And had to face what was going to be
A harsh reality: a Trump regime.

- by Bob B (1-18-17)

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey
Circus will close its doors in May.                                
The Greatest Show on Earth has lost
Its flashy allure of yesterday.

The death-defying acrobats
Will have to seek other employment.
Exotic animal acts no longer
Are a source of great enjoyment.

The circus will fold up its tent for good.
But don't be sad; do not frown.
On January 20
A new circus is coming to town.

- by Bob B (1-16-17)

What does Russia have on Trump?
A little? A lot? Nothing? Who knows?
Nevertheless, there are more questions
Than we can count on our fingers and toes.

Trump seems to have greater regard
For Putin--which is really bizarre--
Than he does for people here,
Which goes to show how crazy things are.

He thinks that he can allay
Our fears by sending out tweet after tweet.
Instead of making the man look stronger,
His messages make him look more effete.

We'll probably never know all the answers.
We'll never know the whys and wherefores,
The truth to faulty explanations
Behind the empty becauses and therefores.

We do know that something is fishy.
Trump's overreactions as such
Are revealing, to say the least.
Methinks he doth protest too much.

- by Bob B (1-14-16)

During the election campaign, Trump        
Railed against Cruz and Clinton for
Their connections to Goldman Sachs--
Something we were supposed to abhor.

This week Donald Trump announced
His FIFTH high-profile hire
From Goldman Sachs to join his team.
Hypocrites are hard to admire.

If Trump's Goldman Sachs complaints
About the others helped you decide
To vote for him, well, sucker,
You were taken for a ride.

- by Bob B (1-13-17)

Trump is upset about what he calls
Fake news being spread--
News which has the soon-to-be
President seeing red.

An unverified dossier
Claims that Russia has power over him.
Fake news or not, it still appears
That Trump's memory is growing dim.

For years he peddled a birther myth!
So, Mr. Trump, please let us put
A question to you: How does it feel
To have the shoe on the other foot?

- by Bob B (1-11-17)

Trump has found another target.
This time it's Meryl Streep.
Once again he's demonstrated
How his thirst for vengeance runs deep.

He didn't like a comment that she
Had made at the Golden Globes, and so
He blasted her with a series of tweets--
Three tweets all in a row.

Streep had referred to a disabled news
Reporter whom Trump had imitated.
Trump lashed back, saying the award-
Winning actress was "over-rated."

A mature and intelligent man
Would move on and do what it takes
To model decent behavior, but that
Is difficult for a man with no brakes.

Poor Trump is still stuck
In the na-na-na-na-na-stage,
Which makes him appear childish and is
Unbecoming for someone his age.

- By Bob B (1-10-17)

Ex-KGB agent
Vladimir Putin knows a great deal
About spying and gathering info
And making a person talk--or squeal.

The FBI, CIA,
And NSA have found a connection
Between Putin and a campaign
To alter the results of our election.

To denigrate Hillary Clinton
Was one of the hackers' primary goals.
By hacking into email accounts
And--with the help of Internet trolls--

Amplifying false reports,
Putin's hackers aimed to block
Clinton's chances of being president.
That they did it is no shock.

At altering Russia's election results,
Putin's expertise is shining.
Anyone who criticizes
The tyrant is worth undermining.

Consequently, Clinton became
The target of Putin's wrath.
A little manipulation and we
Are now seeing the aftermath.

Trump, instead of feeling outrage,
Was really more concerned about who's
Responsible for having leaked
Some of the info to NBC News!

The fact that Russia tampered with
Our election doesn't faze him.
What interests him is vengeance against
Anyone who doesn't praise him.

- by Bob B (1-7-16)

"Dear Mr. Trump…"

"We in Dubai are looking forward
To staying at your luxury hotel.
While there we'd like to discuss some options
And your Dubai golf course as well…."

"We talent bookers have found performers
For your big event, based on good tips.
By the way, thank you for
Your offers of ambassadorships…."

"We Kuwaitis feel the need
To move our celebration to
The Trump International Hotel
From Georgetown. Yes, we love the view…."

"We Russians admire your pick
For Secretary of State. Hurrah!
By the way, we're getting tired
Of all the sanctions blah, blah, blah…."

"We Indonesians feel your support
Of business leaders in this country should
Benefit all. Meanwhile your Bali
Hotel plans are looking good…."

"OUR DECISIONS SHOULD NOT CAUSE
A VIRULENT, DAMNING MEDIA STORM,
FOR WE SEE NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST
IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM…."

-by Bob B (1-4-17)

Trump and his infamous tweets.
Boy is he on a roll!
Have leaders ever had such
A lack of impulse control?

He couldn't tweet just a simple
New Year's greeting to all.
In typical Trumpian fashion
He had to have the gall

To also address his "enemies"--
All of the people who
"Lost so badly" and
"Don't know what to do."

His rambling tweets show
How much he lacks the potential
For rising to the occasion
And being presidential.

They also demonstrate
A definite want of lucidity.
Might his real enemy
Be his own stupidity?

- by Bob B (1-2-17)

New Year's resolutions
Normally aren't worth making,
Since they tend to be
Something we're usually breaking.

I've decided Whoa!
To self-deprivation
And unnecessary
Guilt and indignation.

My resolution this year
Is to daily devour
As many sweets as possible.
(Preferably on the hour.)

The ideal situation
Would be for me to sate
My appetite for confections
Without gaining weight.

All those pastries and donuts
Might not be so cheap.
But THIS is a resolution
That shouldn't be hard to keep.

- by Bob B (1-1-17)

Say good-by to the old year;
Say hello to the new.
Let go of the past and try to recast
A new and exciting you.
Say good riddance to all of your worries;
Start out fresh and clean.
Strive to find peace of mind
In TWENTY SEVENTEEN.

The past year was a messy one
With floods in the Midwest.
Then the ruler of North Korea,
Who has to be possessed
And thumbs his nose at the world and is
Always involved in a tussle,
Exploded a hydrogen bomb, thus
Flexing his little muscle.
LGBT and voting rights
Were both under attack.
Horrible massacres occurred
In Pakistan and Iraq.
In Syria and Afghanistan
Massacres happened as well.
And Jerusalem and Saudi Arabia
Both had a taste of hell.

Record-breaking blizzards made
The East cold and wet.
Scaring the world, the Zika virus
Continued to be a threat.
The water in Flint, Michigan,
Was an ongoing crisis.
Ancient ruins in the Middle East
Were STILL being bombed by ISIS.
The Clinton e-mail "scandal" grew
To ridiculous proportions.
More and more states were killing
Women's rights to abortions.
President Erdogan in Turkey
Cracked down on the press.
In the South China Sea, China
Was causing a lot of distress.

Britain voted to leave the EU.
Obama went to Japan
And visited Hiroshima--
A long-overdue plan.
Russia hacked U.S. computers
And boasted of certain connections,
Making us wonder how much control
We have over elections.
Summer record-breaking heat
Baked many states,
While the media bombarded us
With presidential debates.
The Summer Olympics took place this year
In lovely Rio, but mercy!
It's always hard to pull that off
Without some controversy.

This year we lost some famous people--
Too many to list.
Bowie, Ali, Leonard Cohen
And others will be missed.
(By the way, if memories here
Tend to focus on bad things,
Just remember that life is full
Of both happy and sad things.)
The economy has made improvements;
Unemployment is down.
Some businesses, they say,
Are really going to town.
Many people want to know
How much Donald Trump earns;
The billionaire still refuses
To show us his tax returns!

Fires raged in California.
In Oklahoma the land
Shook from fracking quakes, which
Are getting out of hand.
Protesters demonstrated
Together at Standing Rock
The oil pipeline coming their way.
They gathered round the clock.
Hurricane Mathew slammed hard
Into our eastern coast.
But Glenn Beck's conversion was
What shocked us the most,
Next to the presidential election,
That is. What a surprise!
And to think the unthinkable happened
Right before our eyes!

But say good-by to the old year;
Say hello to the new.
Let go of the past and try to recast
A new and exciting you.
Say good riddance to all of your worries;
Start out fresh and clean.
Strive to find peace of mind
In TWENTY SEVENTEEN.

- by Bob B (12-28-16)

There was a great nation that wasn't that old.
Born when it broke from tyranny's hold,
The land once proclaimed freedom for all.
Who'd ever guess what would befall?
Here's what happened: a billionaire
With rude behavior and flaxen hair
Bluffed his way through an election
And won because of the law's imperfection.
Many voters could not understand
Why others had buried their heads in the sand.
That this outspoken man was the victor
Shocked many an election predictor.
Some said the win was not on the level
And gave the winner no reason to revel.
Whatever the case, this east coast resident
Became the nation's forty-fifth president.

(Many voters held misinformed views
From eating a steady diet of Fox News,
Gorging on pages of Breitbart sludge,
And wallowing in pools of something called Drudge.
They didn't see the signs that were looming
From a candidate NOT at all unassuming.
When demagoguery's alive and well
And one has a bill of goods to sell,
Some people miss the warning alarm.
They fail to imagine how much harm
A person can do to set back the nation,
And they give that person a standing ovation.
False news reports have power to affect
Election results when facts go unchecked,
And when people blindly accept what they read,
Manipulated "facts" do mislead.)

Before the newly elected official--
Whose reputation had been prejudicial--
Received an official swearing in,
He caused many heads to spin.
Posting on Twitter tweet after tweet--
Some of which were not so discreet--
He, on purpose or maybe not--
Depending on your school of thought--
Made many people and nations wary
With tweets that were more than a little bit scary.
To expand the nuclear capability
And disregard the world's volatility
Would be a plan that smacked of insanity
And also would be a threat to humanity.
The new leader just couldn't refrain
From posting such tweets that sounded insane.

Before taking office the leader selected
A team of advisers who truly projected
A frightening image to people who knew
What kind of damage officials could do.
Some appointees had donated huge
Sums to help elect their stooge.
Few had experience in their position,
But that didn't matter since their mission
Was not so much service, but instead
To **** the agency that they led.
One adviser, who stirred up much fear
And had his mouth in the new leader's ear,
Peddled conspiracy theories that made
Him sound like a madman on a crusade.
The country had never seen such a bunch
Of advisers so clearly out to lunch.

The new leader had a connection
With someone for whom he had great affection:
Vladimir Putin, a tyrant who led
A country called Russia, which once was red.
The reasons the two got so tight
Slowly but surely came to light:
The lifting of sanctions, business ties,
How to control people with lies…
The new leader's kids were also expected
To help their dad, who newly elected,
Had to make important decisions
Despite causing rifts and divisions.
(It's hard for a businessman
With a 90-second attention span
And whose thoughts keep disappearing
To make much sense of what he's hearing.)

The newly-elected president,
Who didn't care about time well spent,
Continued rallies from state to state.
The egomaniac couldn't wait
To stand before a cheering crowd
And share his petty thoughts out loud.
"I have a mandate," he muttered,
And falsehoods colored the words that he uttered.
"I'll make this country great again!"
Instead he made many hate again.
He promised to create millions of jobs;
But that was a ploy by him and his nobs.
The crafty plans of this bait and switcher
Would make the poor poorer and the rich richer.
The people would have a lot more to say
After Inauguration Day.

(To be continued…)

- by Bob B (12-26-16)

Goal-oriented is what you are.
You are ambitious and highly pragmatic.
Since you rely on structure and form,
It drives you crazy if life gets erratic.

Capricorns, when they are young,
Often appear mature and engaging.
When they reach middle age,
They seem to defy the process of aging.

Since you like to be in charge,
You like both control and authority.
Your willingness to accept
Responsibility is a priority.

As long as you believe that you'll
Succeed, you will persevere.
But know that you can also be
Lazy when your goals aren't clear.

Though out-going and competitive,
One thing that makes you apprehensive
Is a lack of confidence,
Which can also make you defensive.

Wanting to be admired and respected,
You hate to appear ineffective
And weak, and since you fear rejection,
Winning is your major objective.

In fact, so determined are you
To win, that the thought is vexatious
For you to lose, so when you do,
It's difficult for you to be gracious.

You always want to know where you stand,
So you like to plan each move.
Anticipating gains and losses
Helps you to stay in the groove.

Your love of structure applies to traditions;
You have the need to protect and preserve.
Despite your good sense of humor,
Being teased strikes a nerve.

Dedication to duty guides you.
Even though you have the ability
To reason well, worrying
Can put a strain on your tranquility.

When first dealing with others, you
Can be reserved, but in the end
After you give your trust, you prove
To be a loyal and steadfast friend.

Just be careful that you do not
Turn into a workaholic.
Stifled self-reliance can make
You pessimistic and melancholic.

Because of your hard-working nature,
Mundane tasks are no big deal.
But the loss of self-esteem
Can be your Achilles' heel.

You will accomplish marvelous things
If you can balance work and play.
Let your cautious but warm heart guide you.
Plan for tomorrow, but seize the day.

- by Bob B (12-22-16)

Santa breathed in the cool night air,
Thinking back on the days of old,
Before the polar ice cap started
Melting. When weather was REALLY cold!

"I barely need my heavy jacket,"
Santa said to himself in dismay.
"With all this ice so mushy and slushy,
How will the reindeer pull my sleigh?"

A polar bear came trudging by,
Emaciated and sour in mood.
Shrinking along with the habitat
Was the bear's supply of food.

"Santa," asked the polar bear,
"Do you know what's happening here?
Something very sinister is
Adversely affecting the cryosphere.

"The temperature's rising on land and sea.
I have to say, this isn't nice.
I don't mean to be punny here,
But we are walking on very thin ice."

"Seabirds, too, are leaving," said Santa.
"And so are ice-dependent seals.
Pressure on the ecosystem,
Is making it hard for them to find meals."

Feeling pessimistic, the bear
Wandered off, shaking his head.
Santa muttered, "**** fossil fuels!"
And sloshed his way into his shed.

The once-jolly man started to work
On a project in which he seemed engrossed.
Soon he emerged, carrying
A "For Sale" sign stuck to a post,

Which he placed on his property.
He sighed, "Talk about regrets.
Why the heck didn't I give
More kids chemistry sets?"

- by Bob B (12-20-16)

Ghosts often haunt us--
Ghosts of the past--
Bearing down upon us
Like a winter blast,

Or steadily prodding us
As a constant threat
To see if our response is
Insouciance or regret.

Lurking around a corner,
They're there lying in wait
To test our ability
To circumnavigate.

Appearing out of nowhere
When we least expect them,
They dare us to try
To avoid or reject them.

Though we thought that they
Were buried long ago,
Their recurring visits
Cause more grief and woe.

Sometimes causing panic,
Sometimes causing dread,
They reappear as though
They've come back from the dead.

They take away our breath
Or chill us to the bone
Whether we're in public
Or at home alone.

Sometimes in a nightmare
Or in a crazy dream
We recognize their presence
With a stifled scream.

Running makes no difference.
They're always close behind us,
Or even up ahead;
Somehow they will find us.

Once we stop running
And stand in one place
And grab each phantom
And stare it in the face,

Then and only then
The ghosts disappear,
And we regain our power
And conquer our deep fear.

- by Bob B (12-19-16)

Ari was not different to me.
Kids said, "He is Jewish." So?
I thought to myself. What does that mean?
That was long, long ago.

To me he was a classmate, a kid,
A friend, a neighbor, someone who
Played just like the other kids.
What did it matter if he was a Jew?

That was back when people had "cooties."
Do people have cooties anymore?
If people want to dislike others,
They'll come up with reasons galore:

Different religion, different race,
****** orientation, gender,
The way we talk, or whether we
Are overweight or overly slender.

People will find someone to fear,
Someone to shun, someone to tease,
Someone to scorn, someone to laugh at
And made to feel ill at ease.

We humans! What a bunch
Of silly, crazy, mixed-up fools--
Intolerant, insecure,
Defensive, uptight, as stubborn as mules!

From generation to generation
The cycle continues as parents tell
Their kids whom to hate and like.
Ah, yes, they teach their children well.

Praise to the parents with open minds
Who teach their kids to love, not hate.
That is the key to break the cycle
Of hatred that we perpetuate.

Loving parents guide their children
In loving ways. Such parents show them
The key to understanding others:
To open up and get to know them.

- by Bob B (12-18-16)

When ignorance goes running rampant
And fools run amok,
And the measure of success is strictly
The almighty buck;

When logic and reason become suspect
And fakesters are thought wise,
And people relish living in
A fool's paradise;

When false news is the word of the day
And many people choose
To get their news from stations where ratings
Are more important than news;

When lies masquerade as truth
And facts are seen as perverse,
And the lack of consideration for others
Goes from bad to worse;

When science is known as the enemy
And metaphor as science,
And blind acceptance and misunderstanding
Form a tight alliance;

When bold and brazen ideologues
Make it their primary mission
To push their will upon the people
And crush the opposition;

And when world leaders have the potential
To leave the world in rubble,
And some of the leaders are buffoons,
WE'RE IN A HEAP OF TROUBLE!

- by Bob B (12-17-16)

Do you remember Sandy Hook?
Do you remember when we
Heard about a twenty-year-old
Going on a ****** spree?

December 14: Do you remember
Hearing the news that day?
Twenty children are no longer here
To run and laugh and play.

Ages six and seven they were--
The kids who lost their lives.
Imagine the pain that lingers in every
Loved one who survives.

Six adults at the school that day
Were also brutally shot.
Will we ever find a way
To cut the Gordian knot

Of senseless killing and murderous mayhem,
Or having the fear that when
Our loved ones leave the house, they might
Never come home again?

Millions of Americans cling to a murky
Second Amendment right--
Spurred on by a huge gun lobby
Whose appalling power is tight.

It's bewildering why Sandy Hook
Wasn't the very last straw.
When looking at sensible gun control,
People just hem and haw.

Universal background checks;
Assault weapons bans as well;
No large-capacity magazines…
Must that be such a hard sell?

The focus of many is strictly on
Their "rights" and their pocketbooks
Instead of demanding ways to prevent
Future "Sandy Hooks."

- By Bob B

If you practice unscrupulousness,
You will have it made--
As long as you can persevere
In keeping up the charade.

It's very helpful for cutting deals
To give yourself protection;
You'll also find that it comes in handy
For winning an election.

In order to throw the public off guard,
Employ tactics accusing
Others of opting for similar methods
That you yourself are using.

Some call it unscrupulousness;
Some say unscrupulosity.
Whatever the case, the practice requires
A sinister virtuosity.

Many politicians have
Embraced the concept with fervor
And have bamboozled many a slow,
Imperceptive observer.

Who needs to be honorable
When striving to succeed?
The end justifies the means
To those driven by greed

Or an unquenchable thirst for power.
All they have to do
Is bow to the god of unscrupulousness
And watch their wishes come true.

- by Bob B (12-16-16)

The Trump thank-me rallies continue
As Trump hops from state to state,
Expecting applause and adulation
From loyal fans who congregate.

Trying to sound presidential
Is a challenge for one ill-equipped
To speak without a teleprompter
And sound articulate when off script.

To Trump press conferences
Are useless, senseless rigmarole.
He is more comfortable
Tweeting and being an Internet troll.

But how he loves his thank-me rallies!
He can stand on the stage and address
All of his vague promises
Without questions from the press.

Cheering crowds of people show up,
Praising Trump's theatricality.
Funny, many supporters share
The man's alternate reality.

- by Bob B (12-14-16)

Donald Trump boasts about
A landslide victory in the recent election.
Trump and reality seem to be
Experiencing a disconnection.

Roughly 80,000 votes
Out of millions and millions cast
Determined the winner in the race,
And yet Trump keeps holding fast

To strange and absurd delusions of grandeur
And to a fancy on which he dotes
Regarding his "triumph" over Clinton
And the total number of winning votes.

Even though she received MORE
Than two point five million votes than he,
Eighty thousand in THREE swing states
Won him the presidency.

Eighty thousand. I repeat:
Eighty thousand. That's the size
Of a small Californian town.
That's all it took to win the prize.

As usual, Trump loves to ride
The glory train of Bombast and Bluster,
Refusing to acknowledge that
His victory is really lackluster.

- by Bob B (12-13-16)

Back in September, certain members
Of Congress learned from the CIA
In secret briefings that Russia had
Very maliciously found a way

Through cyber intrusions, for example,
To take advantage of circumstances
To sway our presidential election
By giving a boost to Donald Trump's chances

Of winning, which would have to be
An unprecedented stunt
By a foreign government
To meddle here. Such an affront!

Mitch McConnell and others chose
Not to believe what they had heard
From the CIA, and consequently
Decided not to spread the word,

Thereby allowing certain factors
To affect our election. Imagine instead
If the Russians had helped Hillary Clinton.
Republicans would have been seeing red!

Trump downplays the news, of course.
Through all of this, one thing is clear:
People hear--unfortunately--
ONLY what they WANT to hear.

- by Bob B (12-12-16)

Trump has accused Hillary Clinton
Of having practiced pay-to-play;
Once again, he's taking advantage
Of his supporters' naïveté.

So far, he has appointed SIX
Campaign donors to top positions--
A telling move that ought to cause
Many people to have suspicions.

He took on Wall Street during his campaign,
Which would be a major feat.
Now he is offering Cabinet
Jobs to the economic elite!

Millions of dollars will go to Carrier
To save jobs. But did you hear?
The company wants to automate,
So many jobs will disappear.

The "blue-collar billionaire"
Role of Trump is a scam.
He says he's fighting for workers, but
He doesn't give a tinker's ****.

- by Bob B (12-10-16)

The first presidential contest
In fifty years--to be exact--
Without full protection of
The badly needed Voting Rights Act

Occurred this year--in 2016.
Fourteen states--we must note--
Had implemented voting restrictions
Making it harder for some to vote.

Trump complained of a rigged election,
Which the media devoured in haste;
But little time was spent showing
The REAL threat that voters faced.

Voting restrictions are plaguing the nation--
Just ONE example of far-right aggression.
The fight for rights continues as we
Fight against voter suppression.

- by Bob B (12-9-16)

Donald Trump's potential appointees
For high positions are quite scary.
Some have dubious qualifications
And border on being reactionary.

General Flynn as Security Adviser--
Conspiracy theory peddler supreme.
Could Trump find anyone else
Whose wacky ideas are more extreme?

Peddling the lie that Hillary Clinton
Was involved with *** crimes with kids,
Flynn has spread outrageous notions--
Notions that common sense forbids.

There's also appointee Scott Pruitt.
What sense does it make to hire
Someone to head the EPA
Who's a climate change denier?

Some of these people would threaten the very
Institutions they're supposed to serve.
From all of the possible qualified people,
The choice of these strikes a nerve.

For Secretary of Education
Another name for this ship of fools:
Betsy DeVos--an outspoken
Enemy of public schools!

And Ben Carson in charge of HUD?
Someone out there has to voice
Objections to this appointee who
Thinks that being poor is a choice.

To work in his administration,
Trump said he would find the best.
The choices above aren't very
Promising, along with the rest:

Billionaires and generals
Parading before our eyes with pomp.
So that's what Trump meant when he
Said he was going to "drain the swamp."

-by Bob B (12-8-16)

Environmental Protection Agency

Christmas Day! It's hot off the press.
I cannot believe what I am reading.
There in bold headlines and all in caps:
SANTA CLAUS PULLED OVER FOR SPEEDING!
 
Is it possible for Santa's sleigh
To exceed the maximum miles per hour?
Might that have a little to do
With all of his horse-…or reindeer-power?
 
The policeman asked for his driver's license.
A driver's license for Santa? What gives?
Don't cops know that such trivialities
Are unnecessary where Santa lives?
 
What about vehicle registration?
Also missing on Santa's person.
"Oh, oh," I thought. "He's going to have problems."
But keep on reading: things only worsen.
 
When asked if the red in his cheeks resulted
From tipping the bottle, Santa said, "Stop.
You must be kidding, for you ought to know
That Santa has NEVER touched a drop."
 
The policeman asked him to walk a straight line.
Shaking with laughter, the plump man replied,
"I can't EVEN see my feet.
I couldn't walk a straight line if I tried!"
 
The cop threatened to search the sleigh,
Which, Santa said, would be all right.
"But once you start," he added with a  grin,
"You'll find it's going to take you all night."
 
A witness heard Santa quietly mutter,
"It wasn't such a good idea
To take that alternate route. Good grief!
Where have I landed? In North Korea?
 
You know, you're putting me way behind schedule.
If I don't hurry, I'll be in big trouble."
Santa pleaded with the man in uniform,
"I need to get going on the double."
 
So Santa got off with only a warning.
We're lucky he wasn't hauled off to jail,
Which would have forced Mrs. Claus
To have to come up with money for bail.

- by Bob B

Friedrich Trump… Heard of him?
Born in 1869
In a small town in Germany,
Not too far from the beautiful Rhine…

Grandfather of you know who…
Left home seeking fortune and glory…
Ran taverns and brothels in
Canada's Yukon Territory…

Returned to Europe in 1901
And found himself a German wife…
Skipped military service--
Who needs such a crimp in his life?--

By taking his wife to New York City…
When they returned to German soil,
News of the draft dodger reached
German officials and made their blood boil.

His actions also didn't sit well
With Prince Karl of Bavaria, who
Wanted Friedrich to be deported.
Friedrich's appeals to stay fell through.

On July 1, 1905,
The Trumps, having been told to scram,
Boarded a New York City-bound steamship.
If only they'd stayed in Germany! ****!

- by Bob B (12-6-16)

Welcome to Trumplandia--
Where truth and falsehood collide,
And voters blindly commit
Political suicide;

Where people vote for a man
Because he "speaks his mind"
And don't care how many
People he's maligned;

Where general politeness
And a thin veneer of civility
Are worn away as bigotry
Finds acceptability;

Where extremist views
Completely transmogrify
The democratic process,
And justice and clarity die;

Where clever speeches ignite
Passions that become scary,
And governing becomes
A concern that's secondary;

Where in the guise of freedom
Of religion, people create
Laws that give them the right
To cruelly discriminate;

Where there's baseless distrust
Of scholarly opinions
And the leader prefers his UN-
Educated minions;

Where equal and civil rights
For which people fought
For many, many years
Sadly come to naught;

Where the middle class
Through clever bait and switch
Are talked into providing
Tax breaks for the rich;

Where facts become suspect.
The leader makes it clear:
Invented "facts" are the only
Facts he wants to hear;

Where freedom of speech is stifled,
And millions do not squawk
When the ones in power
Turn back the clock;

Where people need a scapegoat
And constantly look for someone
To blame and do not think
That they could also become one;

Where values, tolerance, morals,
Compassion, and decency fade
While anger and xenophobia
Are on a vicious crusade.

Welcome to Trumplandia.
America, farewell.
Bemoan the ever deepening
Crack in the Liberty Bell.

- by Bob B (12-5-16)

Diplomacy is a delicate thing.
The world is vast and complicated.
If leaders abandon protocol,
Their decisions can be ill-fated.

That's why leaders trust in advisers
With credibility--with ones who know
The world's great complexities:
What is correct and what's a no-go.

Gracefully diving into matters
Is better than doing a belly flop.
We need someone who leads with finesse
And not a bull in a china shop.

-by Bob B (12-3-16)

The crowd cheers, faces light up,
As Trump beams and mentally tallies
The number of fawning participants
Attending the first of his thank-me rallies.

Confusing facts and figures, such as
The number of refugees "pouring in,"
He blasts the "dishonest" media, which
Inadvertently helped him win.

He also promises scores of changes
In jingoistic words and phrases,
Oblivious to the repercussions
And questions that such talk raises.

He claims to be the "messenger."
By voting for him, we all won;
And even without our help, change
Will happen. HE will get it done.

Loving the spotlight, he looks upon
His thank-me rallies with great affection,
Even though normally
Campaign rallies PRECEDE an election.

Meanwhile Trump will tour the states,
Full of himself and hoping that we go
To celebrate his "victory"--
To feed and nurture his giant ego.

- by Bob B (12-2-16)

In contrast with the cold morning air,
The house was cozy and warm
As we all arrived to participate
Like worker bees starting to swarm.
The smell of pork and refried beans
Permeated the room.
The champagne bottles were chilling on ice--
How much did we consume?
Sally brought some egg McMuffins.
I thought, "Something's amiss:
Egg McMuffins and NO pan dulce!°°
What kind of party is this?"

But I wouldn't miss it--nope--for nada:
The annual Alonzo family tamalada.

The giant bucket of masa°°° awaited
Marisa's kneading hands.
While she kneaded the dough, the rest of us
Listened for Sally's commands.
After a brief champagne toast,
Our assembly line started.
Everyone had a job to do;
It wasn't for the faint-hearted.
Spreading the masa on the husks
Was a messy task.
I wondered, "How many will we make?"
But I was afraid to ask.

It wasn't very long before
Everyone in the casa
Was practically covered from head to foot
With fluffy tamale masa.
We spread and stuffed and folded and wrapped
While Sally entertained us.
The conversation, laughter, fun,
And champagne all sustained us.
The wonderful smells of lunch also
Encouraged us to work hard
Lest we be known as shirkers and our
Reputations be marred.

But I wouldn't miss it--nope--for nada:
The annual Alonzo family tamalada

After a few hundred tamales,
The masa was getting low.
I said, "Yay! We're almost done!"
But Alice said, "Oh, no.
That was just the pork; now we're
Making chile and cheese."
Blurry-eyed I held up my spoon
And said, "More hojas,°°°° please."
On and on we continued to work
Like hive bees making honey.
But it was worth it, for these tamales
Are more valuable than money.

Alice, Yvonne, Kathy, Yolie,
Aida, and Sally know why--
As do Marisa, Rebecca, Karen,
Marisol, Nancy, and I--
We always look forward to getting together
For laughter, fun, and cheer
And this spirited, heart-warming gathering
Whenever December is here.
Homemade tamales can't be beat
When made in our special fashion
With love, care, conviviality,
Warmth, goodwill and passion.

I wouldn't miss it--nope--for nada:
The annual Alonzo family tamalada.

__
°tamale-making party
°°Mexican sweet bread
°°°dough
°°°°(corn husk) leaves

- by Bob B

Did you see Hitchcock's classic
****** when it was first released?
Back in 1960 it was--
Before our thirst for blood increased.

Hitchcock teased us with the camera
And was a master at building suspense,
Which for many who saw the movie
Turned out to be too intense.

The unforgettable scene in the shower
Made many viewers too afraid
To shower when staying at home alone
For years after the film had been made.

The intensity of that frightening scene
By modern standards is simple or thin.
They say there's only one split second
That shows the knife touching skin.

In movies now heads go flying,
Bodies explode, throats are slit,
Blood gushes, sprinkles, and splatters--
The butchery never seems to quit.

Eyes pop out, insides ooze,
Bodies are sometimes split in half
Or burnt to a crisp before our eyes.
After a shriek, the viewers laugh.

Are we more sophisticated
Or just immune to blood and gore?
Scenes that scared us way back when
Do not scare us anymore.

It's refreshing when directors use
Restraint and wisely resist temptations
To show it all and leave so little
To the viewers' imaginations.

- by Bob B

Trump continues his ongoing tirade
With baseless claims of voter fraud.
The more he rants and raves the more
We can all see through his façade.

He's what you call a "poor winner."
How easy it is to get his goat!
He just cannot stand the thought
That Clinton won the popular vote.

Demonizing the media therefore
Preoccupies Trump and his team.
Dumbing down the American public
Will be for them a constant theme.

The claims of voter fraud are only
An excuse to suppress voting rights--
An issue which must be added to
Our growing list of ongoing fights.

If we are not vigilant,
If instead we turn a blind eye
To what is really happening here,
Kiss democracy good-by.

- by Bob B (11-29-16)

Give a man a Twitter account
And watch him tweet to his heart's content--
A dangerous thing for a gullible audience
And a misinformed president.

Passing on intelligence briefings
And getting his info from "Morning Joe"
And conspiracy theory websites is how
Trump shows that he's in the know.

Will we see obnoxious tweets
Day after day from him?
Will somebody please take that man's
Twitter account away from him?

- by Bob B (11-28-16)

The Minnesota night was cold;
Ask the man on the street:
It was so cold your words would freeze,
Drop, and break at your feet.
That didn't stop the Jensens at all--
Is that so hard to believe?--
From hosting their annual family feast
That frigid Christmas Eve.

One by one the families poured in
Bearing gifts and food.
Onkel Karl and Tante Inge
Arrived with their brood.
Onkel Jakob and Tante Hilde
And their three kids…Oh, dear!
If I listed all of the relatives,
It would take a year.

Of beer and wine and all kinds of spirits,
Of course, there were a LOT there.
Cousins Arne and Jan were already
Snockered when they got there.
Maybe that explains in part
The reason for the fight
That put a damper on the mood
On such a festive night.

The families had all sat down to dinner
And gazed upon the spread:
Potato dumplings, salads, sausage,
And cabbage, white and red.
Arne, staring at the roasted pig
With a look distant and glazy,
Made a funny joke about
Republicans being crazy.

All at once, the room grew quiet;
Nobody made a sound.
Everybody looked at Jan,
Who glared at Arne and frowned.
To change the mood, Pastor Olsen
Said, "Let's all say grace.
"?Just as he started, Arne got
A lutefisk in the face.

The roasted pig, the salads and lefse
Landed on the floor
As Arne and Jan pounded each other,
And wrestled, kicked, and swore.
The two were covered from head to foot
With gravy, potatoes, and fish.
The last straw was when they broke Grandma’s
Favorite rosemaled dish.

Suddenly, everybody heard
The sharpest, loudest BANG!
Followed by an echo.
Au! How their ears rang!
Grandma Liv was standing there
With a rifle in her hand.
No one was going to argue with her;
She was in command.

Above her was a hole in the ceiling;
Plaster speckled her hair.
The huge room was a total mess--
Food was everywhere.
"Scrape up what you can," she ordered.
"We're going to try this again.
Arne and Jan, just one word
And you two are dead men."

(Luckily there was no one upstairs
Above the dining room,
Though Onkel Odd was across the hall
When he heard the boom.
He was--and who wouldn't be--
So startled by the shot,
That the poor man jumped two feet in the air
And fell right off the ***.)

With dinner salvaged and the table reset,
Again they sat down to dine.
Grandma Liv sternly said,
"Now, family of mine:
Let's enjoy this Christmas feast.
Show me you are able
To have a pleasant evening and keep
Politics away from the table."

Having said that, she smiled and placed
Her rifle in her lap.
Not a soul dared to test her
For fear that she would snap.
Arne and Jan, battered and bruised,
Silently sipped their soup,
To Jan, Grandma said, "Din idiot!"
To Arne, "Nincompoop!"

The hole in the ceiling will remain
As a warning--or constant threat--
Of possible consequences lest
Anybody forget
That political talk at the dinner table
Was something they must nix,
For sausages, pig, lefse, *****,
And politics do not mix.

- by Bob B

All was quiet at midnight
In the comfortable little house
Till Santa accidentally
Stepped on the dog's toy mouse.

The SQUEAK! sounded to Santa
As loud as a cannon boom!
He stopped in his tracks and waited
For silence to fill the room.

Carefully placing the presents
Under the Christmas tree,
He spied a plate of cookies
Next to a glass of Chablis.

Suddenly from the hallway
Came a little sound:
"Hold up your hands, Santa….
Now slowly turn around."

Complying with the order,
Santa turned. Behold!
Identical twins stood there--
Barely five years old.

Both were holding toy guns.
Santa all the while
Had to struggle to keep
From breaking out in a smile.

"We just saw you closing
Mommy and Daddy's door,"
Said one. "We want to know
What you were looking for."

"I had to make sure," said Santa,
"That they were fast asleep.
You know how our Mommies
Hear every little peep."

The boys squinted their eyes,
Not sure what to believe.
All they knew was that Santa
Wasn't the kind to deceive.

"I heard," said the other twin,
"From a friend of mine
That you like to drink milk;
But Daddy says you like wine."

Santa hesitated:
"Well…it depends on my mood.
Sometimes I like variety
Regarding my drink or my food."

The first asked, "Why are Santas--
The ones we see at the mall--
Big and round, but you
Look so skinny and small?"

"Santa works so hard
And he's up so very late,
By the time he is finished,
He's lost a lot of weight."

Santa mumbled softly,
"Will they buy that story,
Or am I going to sound
Trite and conciliatory?"

The dog came in from the hallway
Wagging his tail as though
He had been Santa's friend
From a long time ago.

"How does Sparky know you?"
Both boys asked, surprised.
"ALL pets love Santa,"
The wise man emphasized.

The twins were resolute,
And both remained suspicious.
"You know," said Santa wily,
"It wouldn't be judicious

"To keep detaining Santa.
He has lots to do.
Other kids are waiting
For presents, just like you."

"Ju-what?...Aw, never mind!"
Responded the second twin,
Coming around to realize
The hurry Santa was in.

"We hope we get what we asked for.
But one thing we want to make clear:
If all we get is clothes,
You'll be in trouble next year."

Santa winked and smiled.
"Deal!" he firmly said.
Now put down your weapons
And go back to bed."

While drifting off to sleep
In their beds shortly thereafter,
The two boys heard some mumbling
Accompanied by laughter.

They shot out of bed in the morning--
Slightly after dawn.
The first thing they noticed was
The wine and cookies were gone.

But glasses resembling their dad's
Had been left behind.
Their dad said he could wear them
If Santa didn't mind.

- by Bob B

Did you happen to notice
That last year Santa's sleigh
Was missing an important
Figure, by the way?

Let's see: Comet and *****
Along with Cupid and Prancer
Were there, and so were Donner,
Dasher, Blitzen, and Dancer.

Which reindeer was missing?
Rudolph? Ah, you guessed it.
The news was out there, but
The media had suppressed it.

(Because of frequent fog,
Santa was being sensible
In counting on dear Rudolph,
Who had become indispensable.)

It all started like this:
On the morning of Christmas Eve,
Rudolph was tired from having
Been on the qui vive

For sneaky present robbers
All the previous night.
By noon, poor ol' Rudolph
Looked a sorry sight.

To perk himself up a bit--
The "where" is still unclear--
He dipped into a little
Too much Christmas "cheer."

Now I don't know about you,
But Rudolph's nose would flicker
Whenever he drank wine
Or any other liquor.

When the team of reindeer
Lined up, Santa could tell
That sleigh-guiding Rudolph
Wasn't doing so well.

Needless to say, Santa
Really got a whiff
When he approached his friend
And took a little sniff.

"I can tell, dear Rudolph,
That you've been making merry.
Did you turn your eggnog
Into a Tom and Jerry?"

"I think--hiccup!--a little,"
Said Rudolph with a blush.
"Go to bed," said Santa.
"We are in a rush."

That night Santa was forced--
Although he felt remorseful--
To use toys with lights
To guide him. How resourceful!

So last year if the batteries
To your toys were run down,
Causing disappointment
And many a tear and frown,

Don't feel so sad.
They went to a good cause:
They helped to distribute
Gifts from Santa Claus.

Regarding this year, I
Don't want to keep you guessin':
Rudolph's back in service.
I think he learned his lesson.

But some say Santa's considering--
Despite objections and moans--
Future gift deliveries
With the use of Amazon's drones.

- by Bob B

Much of America is mourning still--
Mourning the light extinguished when
Heedlessness embraced false promise;
Mourning the loss of what could have been;

Mourning the hope of a glorious day
Darkened by a cloud of despair
And sincere interconnectedness
Became replaced by vanity fair;

Mourning the loss of a heart that beat
For all and not for a limited few,
And coarseness received people's praise,
And true refinement became taboo;

Mourning a dream of inclusiveness
With all-embracing open arms
When a nightmare smothered it
And drowned out warnings and alarms;

Mourning the flower of optimism
With hope in every opening bud
When weeds with thorns of cynicism  
Flourished, and hope was dripping in blood;

Mourning the renewed freshness of spring
And the calm peace of a summer's night,
Ravished by winds of uncertainty
And the bitter harshness of winter's blight.

Much of America is mourning still.
The grief will end one day. Till then,
We all move forward while many continue
To mourn the loss of what could have been.

- by Bob B (11-25-16)

Under a tree sat a Christmas present,
Wrapped with loving attention and care
With snowflake paper and shiny red ribbon--
Indicative of a festive affair.

A name tag hung from the ruby-red bow.
The name on the tag simply read "Honey."
Surrounding gifts were covered with Santas,
Elves and penguins--cute and funny.

The twinkling lights on the Christmas tree
Cast their colors, sparkling and resplendent,
On the tinsel, garland, and ornaments--
On every reflective yuletide pendant.

The initial excitement that filled the home
With hope and eager anticipation,
Was suddenly brought to a halt:
A cloud darkened the celebration.

On Christmas Eve when wrappings went flying,
One gift stayed under the tree:
The gift for "Honey" remained unopened,
For "Honey" was an absentee.

"Honey's" life abruptly ended
Three weeks before Christmas Eve
By terrorists' bullets. A time for cheer
Turned into a time to grieve.

Times like this test our faith
In hope and humanity. The trick is to know
How to remain calm and rational
When the heart is aching so.

- by Bob B

You tend to be independent.
Whenever people try to pin
You down, they meet resistance, for
Your motto is: Don't fence me in.

Life must constantly stimulate
Your intellectual curiosity.
A non-challenging situation
Causes you to lose velocity.

You love to learn things on your own
And when you travel, you're at your best.
But don't push yourself too hard;
Give your body and mind a rest.

Going overboard can be
A problem since you're such a go-getter.
You have to learn the hard way at times
That MORE is not always better.

You can be talkative
And sometimes overly loquacious.
You like to give your honest opinion,
But using tact proves efficacious.

Prudence for some Sagittarians
Is a difficult trait to acquire,
And some resort to miserliness
When their good intentions misfire.

Gregarious and enthusiastic,
You love others for what they are.
When it comes to working with people,
You know how to set the bar.

You seek higher spiritual growth,
Advanced achievements, greater prosperity,
And higher aesthetic appreciation;
You don't do well with austerity.

Do not let restlessness
And carelessness overtake you.
Becoming too spiritual
And out of touch could possibly break you.

Maximum enjoyment from
Good things in life is one of your goals.
Being the great adventurer
Can also be one of your roles.

Since you are a natural gambler,
Show restraint with cards and dice.
Tending to be extravagant,
You'll often have to pay the price.

You're at home in many places,
Since you easily adapt to change.
When your enthusiasm is stifled
Is when you feel awkward and strange.

Always ready for a challenge,
You face life with arms open wide.
Just be careful: other people
Can't always keep up with your stride.

- by Bob B

The elves congregated
In the back room of the shop,
Muttering amongst themselves
And chattering on nonstop.

One elf stood on a table
And scanned the angry crowd.
He raised his hand to shush
The others from getting too loud.

"Fellow elves, be quiet.
We have work to do;
This isn't just a trivial
Elven ballyhoo.

"Santa's expectations
Have risen exceedingly.
He takes no action when
I ask him pleadingly

"For a raise in pay
And better working conditions.
He only chortles and laughs
And speaks of old traditions."

An elf spoke up from the group:
"The reindeer have it made.
We work our butts off;
But see how little we're paid.

"Why they earn so much
Isn't really clear
When they only work
ONE night of the year!

"Platitudes and promises
Do nothing to assuage
Angry workers. Santa
Must increase our wage!"

"Yes," chimed in another.
"Not keeping up with inflation,
Our pay keeps us living
In serious deprivation.

"Our benefits also haven't
Kept up with the times.
They are slashed while
The cost of insurance climbs.

"I know we've a lot to do,
And I think we're pretty meticulous,
But the hours we're forced to work…
I mean…this is ridiculous!

"And what about part-time elves
Who have little enjoyment
Working for no benefits?
You call that employment?"

Disgruntled, all the workers
Considered taking action
And wondered what to do
To get some satisfaction.

Another elf said, "Santa's
Heavy demands are an onus.
And we elves don't even
Get a Christmas bonus!

"Frankly, it takes every
Ounce of faith I can muster
To think that dear ol' Santa's
Not a union buster!

"Furthermore, there's something
That I've got to say:
We all have to strive
For equality of pay."

"Yay!" the elves shouted
And in unison chanted:
"Equal pay: Yes!
Take nothing for granted!"

The work discussion lingered
Well into the night.
They knew that gaining ground
Would require a fight.

(In thinking about life,
Struggles, work, and fairness,
It doesn't hurt anyone
To have some elf-awareness.)

Eavesdropping here,
You've seen for yourself
That life's not always peachy--
Even for an elf.

Let's just hope that Santa
Doesn't be a ****
And save a few bucks next year
By outsourcing the work.

- by Bob B