Life has its beautiful moments
When everything appears to jell.
Then, of course, life is filled
With moments of suffering as well.

Good days, bad days. The pendulum swings.
We’re happy today, we’re sad tomorrow.
Our attitude makes a huge difference
In how we respond to joy and sorrow.

Whatever inhabits my earthly form
Is a temporary guest
Until that time comes for me
To enter into eternal rest.

Eternal rest. I like how that sounds.
And also the thought of resting in peace.
Happiness becomes transformed
And illness, pain, and suffering cease.

It’s human nature for us to want
Some things to last forever and hence
As much as we cling to people and things,
Know that there is a consequence.

I hate the thought of leaving my loved ones--
My family, my friends--and earthly pleasures,
But when my time is up, I know
That Death defies our countermeasures.

That being said, I do not wish
To die tomorrow or hasten the end.
I just prefer to look at Death
Not as a foe but more as a friend.

-by Bob B (10-26-21)

Today I got
My booster shot.
It didn't get
A second thought.
Two shots first,
Then THIS makes three.
No, COVID's not for me.

Hi ** the derry o!
Vaccinations work and so
I've known since long ago:
Getting sick is not for me.

My booster shot
Protects me now.
The scientists
Should take a bow.
Viruses
Aren't fun, you see.
So, COVID's not for me.

You MIGHT not want
To get your shot.
It’s hard to un-
Derstand why not.
Experts say
That when we do,
It's best for me and you.

If only all
Would persevere
To help make CO-
VID disappear!
We’re in luck
For we have got
A safe, effective shot.

Yes, herd immunity:
We know what that's all about.
Let’s stand in unity.
Get your booster shot and shout,
"Hey!
I got my shot today!"

-by Bob B (10-25-21)

°This poem could be sung to the melody of the 1940 song "I’ve Got No Strings" by Leigh Harline and Ned Washington for the Disney film PINOCCHIO. If you don’t know the song, check it out on YouTube. Knowing the melody helps with the rhythm of the poem.

When we delve into our past,
Stories of odd eccentrics abound.
Of course, you'll find them even today
If you dare to look around.

Have you heard of the Collyer brothers--
Two brothers of strange repute?
Homer and Langley were their names.
Their oddness one cannot refute.

Born in the late 1800s,
The two were only three years apart.
Although they were peculiar,
Both of them were rather smart.

Langley studied engineering
And chemistry; Homer, law.
When the family moved to Harlem,
They lived in a brownstone with ma and pa.

After their parents separated,
The two brothers chose to reside
With their mom and even continued
To stay there after their mother died.

The brothers had a strange compulsion
To collect stuff and even more stuff.
And when that happens, for many people,
There is never, ever enough.

They lived in "nests" that they had made
In debris that was piled as high as the ceiling.
Most of us couldn't comprehend
How the two could find that appealing.

Langley built ***** traps in case
Inquisitive neighbors tried to break in.
People on the outside knew
That something strange was occurring within.

The brothers refused to pay their bills,
So naturally, it came to pass,
That they would have to make do without
Electric power, water, and gas.

The two had 25,000 books,
Mountains of papers and magazines,
Fourteen pianos, two organs--
Surely the most bizarre of scenes--

Baby carriages, bicycles,
Human organs pickled in jars,
Thousands of bottles, cats, banjos,
Chandeliers, and parts of cars.

Homer was found dead in an alcove.
He died of starvation and heart disease.
His matted gray hair hung down to his shoulders
And his head was resting on his knees.

Later, the body of Langley was found,
After a two-and-a-half-week lapse.
Apparently, he had been killed
By one of his own ***** traps.

Over 120 tons
Of junk was removed from the brothers' dwelling.°
Incomprehensible!
And you can bet that it wasn't sweet smelling.

So hoarders beware. Listen to
The wake-up call before it's too late,
Lest you follow the path of the Collyer
Brothers and suffer a similar fate.

-by Bob B (10-24-21)

°Some sources say 140 tons.

Have you heard of Pastor Rick Wiles?
Pastor Wacko is more apropos.
After hearing about his rants,
I'm sure he's someone I DON'T want to know.

According to him, "they" are planting
Parasite eggs within our vaccine.
Thus, an "evil cabal of people"
Will gain control through COVID-19.

Because of the Chinese medical mafia,
He got COVID, he attested.
They had infected him because
He wanted to have Dr. Fauci arrested.

Other assertions that Wiles has made:
Trump's impeachment: a "Jew coup."
Because of marriage equality,
Earth's destruction will ensue.

Queen Elizabeth is really
A "lizard person" in a disguise.
God will ****** the enemies
Of Donald Trump. What a surprise!

Because of widespread gay rights, God
Is killing chickens and pigs and bees.
Bill Clinton has brain cancer
Because he devours children. Please!

That someone like Wiles has followers
Is as crazy as crazy could be;
But anyone who believes his nonsense
Has to be as wacky as he.

-by Bob B (10-21-21)

(This poem can be sung to the melody "Clang, Clang, Clang Went the Trolley," by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane and sung by Judy Garland.)

With my questions teeming, with an open mind,
And with fear of what might come about,
I scoured the information and looked for inspiration
To deal with rampant doubt.
As the COVID virus spread around the globe,
It was not some silly little game.
It spread and it spread, and what lay ahead
Made it clear we'd remember its name.

Zoom, zoom, zoom went the virus--
Si-, si-, silent but real.
Why, why, why, asked the people,
Do we have to face such an ordeal?

Squirt, squirt, squirt went the vaccine
Pumped, pumped, into each arm.
Crossed, crossed, crossed went our fingers
That the vaccine would work like a charm.

Though not foolproof, somehow it works.
We know that vaccinations have a lot of perks.
We will be safe to a degree--
Safer than without it; that is a cinch to see.

Hiss, hiss, hiss went deniers.
Stop, stop, stop! went their screams.
Free-, free-, freedom! they shouted.
And the more that they squawked with their reasons half-cocked,
We could tell…
They enjoyed raising hell.

Why do they have to be so strange?
Maybe there is hope that some of them will change.
Why don't they listen to the pros,
And stop believing lies that add to all our woes?

Sniff, sniff, sniff go our noses.
Swish, swish, we wipe our tears
As we remember our loved ones.
After we've dodged the darts
Let us hold in our hearts all the vast
Memories we've amassed.
What a blast! Not aghast we'll hold fast when at last
COVID'S passed. Yes, and THEN…
We'll be safe once AGAIN!

-by Bob B (10-20-21)

It seems as though our friends on the Right
Are still eager to pursue
Policies that show that they want
To have their cake and eat it, too.

Take taxes, for example.
They want voters to buy their pitch
On how they're lowering taxes, but
The biggest tax breaks go to the rich.

Fighting vaccine and mask mandates,
They chatter on and will not drop it.
They want to get past COVID; however,
They aren't really trying to stop it.

They are seeing the damaging
Effects of extreme weather conditions,
But when we talk clean energy,
They don't budge from their positions.

Ironically, voter integrity
Is an idea that they promote,
And yet all across the country
They're working hard to suppress the vote.

They praise America's history
Of freedom and democracy,
And yet they kiss the ring of man
Who leans toward autocracy.

They cannot have it both ways.
Democratic values matter.
Between thuggish power and freedom,
Americans should choose the latter.

-by Bob B (10-19-21)

"I was like, Wow, THAT is crazy!
He was like, There's no parallel.
I was like, That is SO bizarre.
He was like, Yeah, what the hell?

"So I was like, Why don't people get it?
He was like, They are SO deranged.
I was like, What is happening here?
He was like, Weird how people have changed.

"I was like, I am flabbergasted.
It hit me like a ton of bricks.
He was like, Yeah, that's so strange.
But that's how people get their kicks.

"I was like, Couldn't they see it coming?
He was like, Yeah, give me a break!
I was like, What were they thinking of?
He was like, THAT really takes the cake!

"I was like, What are we going to do?
What will it take to get it together?
He was like, Well, if we do,
Knock me over with a feather."

What's going on with the English language
With the overuse of "like"?
It seems that specificity
And clarity have gone on strike.

-by Bob B (10-19-21)

Every day it seems that we hear on the news
That someone else has a few loose screws:
Anti-vaxxers causing disruptions on our planes.
Trying to be obnoxious, they go to great pains.
Defying mask rules, they are picking fights,
Intimidating passengers and delaying flights.
Physically and verbally abusive, they don't care
If they cause disturbance on the ground or in the air.

Foolishly trying to assert their independence,
They spit at, and yell at, and curse at flight attendants,
Who must bear the burden of all the lunacy.
It also is a serious threat to you and me.
Recently, we've heard that a certain nutcase
Punched a flight attendant right in the face,
Knocking out two teeth! Another commandeered
The plane's PA system. Boy, was that weird!

Some unruly passengers have so turned up the heat
That they have had to be duct taped to their seat.
To spread misinformation about our vaccines,
Some of them resort to using any means.
Screeching and preaching, expressing their defiance
Of epidemiologists who rely on science,
Some of these crazies seem to be intent
On being as obnoxious as the former president.

It's so sad to see that we have come to this.
It makes a person wonder what has gone amiss.
Why do some people choose to reject
Behavior toward others that involves more respect?
Fools! They show a lack of common sense.
Fools are the ones who come to their defense.
Fools! I can't think of any other word--
Fools!--to describe behavior so absurd.

THEY'RE FOOLS!

-by Bob B (10-18-21)

You're at a party when--déjà vu--
The music changes from out of the blue.
You might miss a step, but whatever you do
Keep dancing.

Meteorologists predict a storm.
But inside all is comfy and warm.
If you want to stay true to form,
Keep dancing.

All through the evening your friends come and go.
That is the nature of parties, you know.
Your feet might grow tired; even so,
Keep dancing.

Some say life's a party.
At least we can pretend.
We know that at some point
Parties have to end.

You look at the clock; the hour is late.
But your time of departure can wait.
Why leave the party when you're feeling great?
Keep dancing.

-by Bob B (10-17-21)

Nonsense from the folks on the Right
Continues to plague us every day.
It's as though we're all on a stage,
Caught in the midst of a nihilist play.

A Texas school administrator
Told her staff to interfuse
Books about the Holocaust
With books containing opposing views!

Here's what that means: if they have books
About the Holocaust on their racks,
Opposing books must be included,
Or Holocaust books must be given the ax.

When going in that direction, people
Are treading on dangerous territory,
For when we talk of the Holocaust,
There are NOT two sides to the story.

Other appalling news: Trump
Is coopting the GOP
By taking it hostage so he can secure
His role as a future nominee.

All Republicans who fail
To push his giant election lie
When they run in future races
Are going to have to say bye-bye.

If they don't obey his command,
He'll tell people not to vote.
That will hurt the Republicans,
And he will just sit back and gloat.

There's something we must understand:
The soul of our nation is in peril.
All it takes is a little poison
To ruin the water that fills a barrel.

-by Bob B (10-16-21)

It’s a female’s world.
Well, for emus it is.
Once her egg's been laid,
The rest of the work is HIS.
Her mate, who's already built
Their nest, sits on the eggs
And barely even gets to
Rise to stretch his legs.
He doesn't even drink,
Eat, or leave the nest.
His only nourishment
Is morning dew at best.
Meanwhile, the female
Doesn't hesitate
To say good-bye to her beau
And look for another mate.
After the eggs have hatched,
The male takes care of the chicks
By teaching them how to perform
The usual emu tricks,
Such as how to eat
And how to socialize
With all the other little
Emu girls and guys.
Soon the process will start
All over again.
I wonder if he envies
The life of an emu hen.

-by Bob B (10-14-21)

There were times when we at least thought
The United States was deserving of praise.
We served as a model for many nations.
What has happened to those days?

Now we're at the threshold of
A growing movement that seems to be
A direct assault on what we've stood for
And a threat to our democracy.

How we used to criticize
Strongman rulers worldwide
Who stripped their people of their rights!
Oh, how we were horrified!

Now people around the world
Look at us in disbelief
And ask themselves how all of us
Are not overcome with grief.

People who lived in autocracies
And fled because they lived in fear,
Look around wide-eyed and ask,
"What the hell is happening here?"

Insurrectionists being called
Patriots? Voter suppression?
Overturning election results?
A personality cult obsession?

Immigrants becoming scapegoats?
People challenging safe elections?
Paramilitary thugs?
Folks with suspicious foreign connections?

People threatening health care workers
And thinking there's nothing wrong with that?
The breaking down of institutions?
Voters preferring an autocrat?

Apathy will be our downfall;
Our complacency will as well.
There won't be a clang of freedom
From our silenced Liberty Bell.

If we do not strive to preserve
Democracy and make that our aim,
We will suffer the consequences
And have only ourselves to blame.

-by Bob B (10-12-21)

(Based on "THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A SHOE")
~
When Democrats mention the national debt,
The Republicans panic and they get so upset.
When THEY'RE in control, do they ever balk?
It's just when the Dems are in pow'r that they squawk.

(Based on "HICKORY, DICKORY, DOCK")
~
Lickity, splickity, splat!
L. Boebert's° such a brat.
She thinks it's fun
To flash her gun.
Lickity, splickity, splat!

°Republican Representative from Colorado

(Based on "JACK AND JILL WENT UP THE HILL")
~
Trump and Mel no longer dwell
In our capital city.
They've gone south, and word of mouth
Is that they're sitting pretty.

Trump will sing, "Please kiss my ring!"
To all who come to visit.
He STILL thinks HE'S in charge. Oh, please!
That's REALLY not funny, is it?

(Based on "THERE WAS A CROOKED MAN")
~
There was a crooked con, and he had a crooked scheme.
He used some crooked tactics to achieve his crooked dream.
He had some crooked friends who helped his crooked plan.
But still he lost the race--that crazy, crooked man.

(Based on "HUMPTY DUMPTY SAT ON A WALL")
~
Giuliani couldn't resist.
Tipping the bottle till he got ******.
He claimed that our voting process was marred.
Due to his lying, he should be disbarred.

(Based on "LITTLE BO-PEEP")
~
Ol' Michael Pence had enough sense
To certify the election.
Although he came 'round, later he found
He'd lost his hero's affection.

Though Michael Pence sometimes sounds dense,
Who knows what will fulfill him?
The man didn't get so very upset
When rioters threatened to **** him.

Will he kowtow, grovel and bow
Before a man who is shameless?
He probably will. That's HIS bitter pill,
For he himself is not blameless.

(Based on "BAA, BAA, BLACK SHEEP")
~
Blah, blah, Ted Cruz,°
Have you any guts?
I don't think so since you're nuts.
Why don't you take off
And fly to Cancún
And stay down there forever?
And please do it soon!

°Republican Senator from Texas

-by Bob B (10-11-21)

Attending school board and city council
Meetings to voice your opinion is fine.
But when people intimidate
And threaten officials, they've crossed the line.

What we are seeing happening here
Shows a blatant disregard
Of civil behavior by people attending
Meetings from which they should be barred.

Objecting to mandates that save people's lives,
The bullies even ridicule,
Attack, abuse, and scream at parents
Who are walking their kids to school.

Let's make one thing perfectly clear:
They're not merely expressing opinions.
The bullying and attacks are being
Carried out by the far right's minions.

And then at hearings on Capitol Hill,
A young upstart who's from Missouri
And sides with insurrectionists,
Josh Hawley, vents his fury:

"You mean that parents cannot express
Opinions at meetings?" he asks with shock,
Pandering to the far right mobs
As he struts around like the **** of the walk.

To try to explain how people like that
Are voted in, I will pass.
It's just amazing how a U.S.
Senator could be such an ***.

-by Bob B (10-11-21)

It's not uncommon for some people
To misuse the words INFER and IMPLY.
I don't know if I can clearly
Explain the difference, but I will try.

When we want to IMPLY something,
We have a point that we want to convey;
However, we merely hint at it.
We're NOT direct in what we say.

You say, "Your pants are getting tighter."
There's SOMETHING there that you have IMPLIED:
The implication that I am gaining
Weight cannot be denied.

Of course, that's a case that is
Extremely sensitive despite
Whether you merely HINT that I
Am getting fat or say it OUTRIGHT.

I say, "I can INFER from what
You're saying that I am putting on pounds."
You say, "No, I meant that maybe
Your pants have shrunk, strange as it sounds."

(That's what we call an attempt at a save--
At times it will work, at times it won't.
Here's my advice in case you want
To IMPLY a sensitive matter: DON'T!

But there is a chance that you might intend
To be mean or rude in what you're implying.
Among politicians such
Tactics are intensifying.)

INFER means to draw a conclusion
Based on someone's hint or suggestion,
Whether it's put in the form of a statement
Or even more subtly posed as a question.

Therefore, you can INFER a meaning
From something that I have IMPLIED to you.
You might INFER that I like sharing
Grammar and usage. Yes, that's true.

-by Bob B (10-10-21)

Halloween is approaching, and so
You'd better watch out for spooks.
Watch out for zombies and vampires and witches.
Most of all watch out for kooks.

Ghosts are out there hoping to scare you
And trying to put on the squeeze
For you to think that the COVID vaccine
Is worse than the disease.

They haunt the halls of Congress and make
Appearances anywhere,
Looking for innocent victims to
Intimidate or scare.

They don't mind Halloween masks
That might look gruesome or gory.
But wearing masks to save human lives?
That is a different story!

Once a zombie bites you, you
Join the walking dead,
Which shows how easy it is for mistrust
And ignorance to spread.

Vampires want to feast on the blood
Of truth that runs through your veins,
After that, your appetite
For blood is all that remains.

Witches know how to concoct a potion
To make you want to distrust
Our institutions, many of which
They want to see bite the dust.

Kooks are scary, for sometimes they
Are harder to recognize,
But once they open their mouths to speak,
You can hear their lies.

Though Halloween is a scary time,
Frankly, we have to fear
All of these kooks and zombies and such
Every day of the year.

-by Bob B (10-9-21)

Gaslighting: creating a false
Narrative in order to make
People question reality--
To change what's true into what's fake.

Trump, for example, has perfected
The art of gaslighting to a T
When he wants us to believe
That what's really there is NOT what we see.

Take January 6,
The day of the Capitol insurrection,
When thugs violently rejected
The results of the 2020 election.

Trump and his supporters are saying,
Oh, it really wasn't that bad.
It was merely some patriots
Expressing themselves because they were mad.

Or look at all the lies being spread
That our elections are not reliable.
Faulty machines…election fraud…
All of that is unjustifiable.

Gaslighters deny wrongdoing
And love the tactic of shifting the blame.
Immigrants are responsible for
Spreading COVID, gaslighters claim.

Lying, distracting: those are their tactics.
Erasing the past is their major goal.
They'll wear us down with their lies and do
Whatever they can to stay in control.

-by Bob B (10-8-21)

Can you imagine a thing more bizarre?
Strange things can happen but this is by far
One of the craziest stories I've heard.
Call it outrageous, for that's a good word.

The end times are coming and we're on the brink.
That's what some white evangelicals think.
The one who'll be leading us over this ****
Will be none other than Donald J. Trump.

Sing too-ra-lie-loo-ra-lie-loo-ra-lie-ay.

This crazy idea explains to us why
So many people believe Trump's Big Lie.
His challenge, they feel, is not just a whim:
That the election was stolen from him.

Other groups out there have joined in the cause
And bow and kowtow to their Wizard of Oz.
Even the Moonies have entered the fray.
How easy it is to lead people astray!

Sing too-ra-lie-loo-ra-lie-loo-ra-lie-ay.

Part of their big propaganda machine
Is rhetoric very much anti-vaccine.
Some of the leaders are sounding alarms
To talk devotees into taking up arms.

Conspiracy theories continue to weave
Through the ideas that these folks believe.
Yes, they remind us that we have free will;
But far-fetched ideas lead people to ****.

Sing too-ra-lie-loo-ra-lie-loo-ra-lie-ay.

Some politicians will hold up a gun
And say to us that church and state should be one.
I guess in their readings there's something they missed:
Our Constitution was not on their list.

Maybe the end of the world it won't be,
But what is going on gives no comfort to me.
Democracy's fragile; there is no doubt.
And we can't let radical groups wipe it out.

Sing too-ra-lie-loo-ra-lie-loo-ra-lie-ay.

-by Bob B (10-7-21)

°This poem can be sung to the melody of "Sweet Betsy from Pike."

So disgusting: A pesky fly
That hangs around as if to say,
"It doesn't matter HOW repulsive
You find me; I am NOT going away."

Intruding upon our privacy,
It thinks it's so important, so when
We try to shoo the pest away,
It just comes back again and again.

"Get out of our lives!" we want to scream.
"You've been around here FAR too long!"
Then when we think it has disappeared,
We suddenly find that ****! we were wrong.

So persistent at being a nuisance,
It doesn't mind being reprimanded.
Just imagine where it has been,
The things it has touched, and where it has landed.

"What is its purpose," we ask ourselves,
"Other than to cause distress--
To work its way into our lives
And leave behind a major mess?"

It hangs around with similar flies
That seem to have a similar goal:
To leave their disgusting mark on whatever
They touch and try to stay in control.

It has no sense of self-awareness,
So how the hell did it EVER get backing?
When it was more prominent, it
Evaded attempts to send it packing.

Finally, we thought that we
Had shooed the fly away forever.
But, alas, the pest returned.
Flies are more persistent than clever.

How do you rid yourself of a pesky
Fly that refuses to leave the scene?
Acknowledge how big a bother it is,
And then construct a protective screen.

-by Bob B (10-6-21)

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "Morning Has Broken" by Cat Stevens and Eleanor Farjeon.)

Vaccines are working. Evidence proves that.
Let's not be shirking what must be done.
COVID is killing; look all around us.
If folks are willing, we will have won.

If we forsake such efforts to save us,
Our hearts will ache much lest hope survives.
Stalling is fateful; it need not happen.
We should be grateful when we save lives.

Life is uncertain. That's true; however,
Don't close the curtain till the show ends.
Mindful endeavors keep us together;
Thoughtlessness severs family and friends.

Experts can guide us on this long journey,
Walk alongside us, and give us hope--
Hope that tomorrow will bring an end to
Much of our sorrow. That helps us cope.

Vaccines are working. Evidence proves that.
Let's not be shirking what must be done.
COVID is killing; look all around us.
If folks are willing, we will have won.

-by Bob B (10-5-21)

"Hang" and "hang" are two different verbs--
One is strong; the other is weak.
You'll often notice that they are misused
When English speakers write and speak.

STRONG verbs are irregular verbs.
WEAK verbs are regular. So you'll find
That these are just two categories
To which all English verbs are assigned.

When we say, "We hung the painting
On the wall," the verb is strong.
But if we say, "They hung the bandit
At dawn," well, that is wrong.

"They hanged the bandit at dawn" is correct.
"Hang" there is weak. As you can see,
The past tense form of the weak verb "hang"
Ends in the letters E and D.

So does the participle as well:
"The murderous bandit was hanged at dawn."
Of course, the bandit wouldn't care
What verb we used once he was gone.

If you say, "The bandit was hung,"
You can say it if you dare,
But that implies something different,
And maybe we shouldn't be going there.

If you're unsure about "hung" and "hanged,"
Maybe do a grammar check.
"We hung the ornaments on the tree";
"The violent outlaw was hanged by the neck."

-by Bob B (10-3-21)

A lot of English speakers today
Have difficulty with "lie" and "lay."
When we are talking about reclining,
"Lie" is the word that we're defining.
Your English teacher might give you a frown
If you say, "I am going to lay down."
"I'm going to LIE down" is what it should be.
"Lay" requires an object, you see.
Confused, people often ask why
"Lay" has to be the past tense of "lie."
That is partly what makes us confused
And also explains why the words are misused.
"All day last Monday I LAY in my bed."
But people will slip and say "laid" instead.
Remember, the past tense of "lay" is "laid":
"I LAID my coat on the bench in the shade."
Silly example I know; I'm just trying
To make a point. And NO, I'm not lying.
Now when you are using "lying" and "laying,"
The same rules apply. Do you hear what I'm saying?
"She's LYING on top of the quilt right now."
"We're LAYING our coats on the bed." Somehow,
With just a little effort we'll get it,
And it won't confuse you if you don't let it.

-by Bob B (10-1-21)

Now peddling replacement theory,
And even calling it by name,
Some on the Right are using the term
Overtly, without a hint of shame.

A multicultural America
Is clearly what the proponents fear.
But who or what is being replaced
To many people remains unclear.

I used to think the concept was
A bigoted, racist thing of the past.
But what we are seeing happening now
Shows how long such ideas can last.

After the rallies in Charlottesville,
When mobs of white-supremacists chanted
"Jews will not replace us!" we knew
That we shouldn't take our freedoms for granted.

So now the Right is telling us
That immigrants are "invading" our land,
Bringing disease and who knows what else;
Therefore, we must take a stand.

Furthermore, the Right insists
That bringing immigrants in is not
Beneficial to all, for it
Is nothing but a "liberal plot."

To bolster their non-inclusive ideas,
Some on the Right have traveled abroad
To gain support from strongmen leaders
To whom they give an approving nod.

Ideas that used to be on the fringe,
Now occur on a larger scale
And out in the open--in clear sight--
As the GOP drops its veil.

Hold up a mirror, America.
Do you like what you currently see?
Heaven help us if this is the kind
Of country we were meant to be.

-by Bob B (9-30-21)

COVID grifters are quite outspoken
In blasting vaccinations;
They pump voters full of rage
And then rake in donations.

The RNC° has also stooped
To lying about the shot
By telling prospective donors that it's
Part of a "liberal plot."

Why would members of the RNC
Want to be promoters
Of what could sicken, or even worse,
Possibly **** their voters?

The people at Fox News are thrilled:
Segments that they've produced
Regarding anti-COVID mandates
Give their ratings a boost!

People driven by money and ratings
In places where untruths lurk
Disseminate lies while at the same time
They know that vaccines work.

Social media platforms are also
Sites where we can find
The truth about vaccines being
Viciously maligned.

In short, unscrupulous folks all over
Choose to demonize
Efforts to stop the pandemic while they
Make money from their lies.

Before you share that Facebook post
That spreads misinformation,
Be sure the post you're sharing isn't
Complete fabrication.

-by Bob B (9-29-21)

°Republican National Committee

Although days were dark,
Now they are brighter.
The sun is peeking through the clouds of despair.
The weight of worries
Has become lighter.
At least we're starting to become more aware.
Sometimes it seemed
That time had stood still.
Let's hope all our efforts do not come to naught.
We're moving on;
In the meantime, I will
Be waiting for my COVID booster shot.

We know vaccines
Offer protection.
We can cut down on both sickness and death.
As lives are saved,
See the connection.
Those who worry, stop and take a deep breath.
It's hard to fathom
So much resistance.
Why deny a means that can help us a lot?
With my mask
And a safe social distance,
I'm waiting for my COVID booster shot.

I still have hope
That knowledge can save us--
That we unite with the same motivation.
If we all used
The brain nature gave us,
We could quell the spread of misinformation.
Doing what's right
Shouldn't be hard.
Everybody ought to give that some thought.
I'll do my part
And be on my guard,
While waiting for my COVID booster shot.

-by Bob B (9-27-21)

"Algorithms": a funny word--
Unless, of course, you're a mathematician.
(Frankly, I have a hard enough time
With simple subtraction and addition.)

But Facebook uses algorithms
To help determine what we'll see
When we click on the app and enter
Our social media reality.

The algorithms decide whether,
How often, and when we'll see a post,
Based on our interactions online.
Facebook's quite a controlling host.

How does it know what you prefer?
It doesn't know unless you care
To make a comment or click on a button
Such as "Like" or "Love" or "Share."

If you're a silent spectator, you
Will not generate connections.
Who knows what you'll end up seeing.
Do not bother to raise objections.

Have you noticed that when you search
For something on the internet,
That all of a sudden that item appears
In a Facebook ad? Intrusive? You bet!

It would be nice if Facebook could
Stop the spread of misinformation.
It doesn't want to lose customers,
So that might require legislation.

It seems rather offensive to me
That we are being manipulated.
But nobody forced me to get an account;
In no way was I obligated.

I ask people who aren't on Facebook
If they feel they're missing out.
I shouldn't be surprised by their answer:
"NO…EFFING…WAY!" they shout.

-by Bob B (9-26-21)

THE GOP'S BEEN TAKEN HOSTAGE
As Donald Trump continues to spin
Stories about the presidential
Election that he didn't win.

Republicans have shamelessly caved.
A large percent of them embrace
Trump's Big Lie about the election,
Mainly because they fear his base.

THE CLOWN SHOW IN ARIZONA ENDS.
It was in the guise of an audit
That proved to be essentially
Nothing but a wasteful fraudit.

Costing millions of dollars and taking
Five months for ballot inspections,
It only helped to undermine
People's trust in future elections.

REPLACEMENT THEORY PROLIFERATES,
While the right keeps spreading tales
Of thousands of immigrants coming here
To vote in order to tip the scales.

The fearmongers are not subtle.
In fact, their rants are quite overt.
Spreading lies and paranoia,
They proudly sling their racist dirt.

DEMOCRACY IS UNDER ATTACK
As more info comes to light
Of how Trump tried to overturn
Election results with all his might.

When people in power blur the truth,
Deceive the public, and then retell
History, they're on the path
To shoot democracy to hell.

-by Bob B (9-25-21)

Afghanistan: Graveyard of Empires.
What a fitting name!
Countries that try to conquer it
End up leaving in shame.

THREE TIMES the British tried
To tame the unruly land,
And THREE TIMES they left it because
Things didn't go as planned.

In fact, 1919 is considered
Independence Day.
That was the THIRD time that the British
Invaders walked away.

In 1979 the Russians
Tried to make it their own,
Which eventually became
Another cause to bemoan.

The U.S. helped insurgent fighters
Called the mujahideen
Fight the Russians. Maybe it wasn't
Wise to intervene.

The Russians left in '89.
Their goals had dissolved.
After the 9-11 attack,
The U.S. got involved.

In just a few months, the Taliban
Were brought to their knees,
But U.S. foreign relations are often
Lacking in expertise.

The U.S. devoted ninety percent
Of its efforts to Iraq.
Soon in Afghanistan, voilà!:
The Taliban were back.

We heard about Russian bounties
On U.S. soldiers, no?
Payback for what the U.S. had done
Forty years ago.

And so the story goes on and on:
For 20 years we fought
An ongoing war in Afghanistan,
Which finally came to naught.

Four presidents can share
The blame for what occurred.
To put all the blame on one of them
Would be completely absurd.

And so, regarding the Graveyard of Empires,
The world remains perplexed.
Will other countries make the same
Mistake? Who'll be next?

-by Bob B (9-24-21)

Lately some sources reveal
A Zuckerberg/Trump shifty deal,
Which changed the complexion
Of last year's election--
The one that Trump's trying to steal.

Donny felt that indeed
There was really no need
To fact-check his scads
Of political ads,
And sources say Markie agreed.

Afterwards what did we learn
That Facebook got in return?
No applications
Of tough regulations--
A deal that's not easy to spurn.

Zuckerberg says it's not true.
That's something he never would do.
So where does that leave us?
If people deceive us,
They'll NEVER admit it. Would you?

-by Bob B (9-23-21)

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "Tammy" by Jay Livingston and Raymond B. Evans.)

You topped TV's televangelist scene.
Tammy Faye, Tammy Faye, you were the queen.
When hubby Jim Bakker was forced to come clean,
Tammy Faye, Tammy Faye, you were still queen.
Will we ever know
What it was
That made you tick?
And people still wonder why
Your make-up was so thick.
We can still picture your face with its sheen.
Tammy Faye, Tammy Faye, you were the queen.

When other preachers were badmouthing gays,
Tammy Faye, you had new pathways to blaze.
You offered them love in so many kind ways,
Even though there was much money to raise.
When the world was cruel,
So very cruel,
To people with AIDS,
Compassion for them became
One of your crusades.
Although people blasted your actions and mien,
Nonetheless, Tammy Faye, you were the queen.

-by Bob B (9-21-21)

This is a tale about voting--
Something that we take for granted.
But what we see happening here
Is leaving folks quite disenchanted.

Democracy counts on its voters
To shape it and keep it alive.
If votes are taken away,
How will it ever survive?

After a failed Reconstruction,
Voter restrictions took root
Way down in ol' Mississippi.
Then other states followed suit.

In many states people kept seeking
Unfair ways of promoting
Strategies that were intended
To stop many Blacks from voting.

Imagine: you show up to vote.
You wouldn't get very far
If YOU had to guess the number
Of jellybeans in a jar.

Or let's say that you were forced
To pass an unfair test
Or pay what you couldn't afford.
Those were ways votes were suppressed.

Intimidation became
Another tool that was used
In places where Blacks cast their votes.
That shows how our rights were abused.

Congress had to step in
To pass legislation to take
Biased laws off the books.
There was so much at stake.

But red states now are trying
To make it harder once more
For people of color to vote
With laws that we ought to deplore.

Americans should be united
In helping democracy grow.
However, in order to do that,
Jim Crow laws have to go.
Yes, in order to do that,
Jim Crow laws have to go.

-by Bob B (9-21-21)

Drone strike in Afghanistan.
Now the Pentagon admits
That it made a BIG mistake
That blew ten Afghan civilians to bits.

The day: August 31.
Sometimes calculations are wrong
And happen when we stay involved
In places where we don't belong.

Three adults and seven children.
Mistakes like this have happened before.
Thousands of civilian deaths
Occurred during our 20-year war.

A "reasonable certainty."
That is what it takes to get
The U.S. military to bomb
What it thinks is a dangerous threat.

What about upping the threshold?
Regarding such strikes, have we not
Considered that "reasonable" should be
Changed to "certain"? Food for thought.

"Collateral damage": an ugly expression.
So many innocent people have died
In wars that are unnecessary.
How can that be justified?

"Over the horizon operations."
With zero accountability? Why?
If we plan to continue such strikes,
Then more innocent people will die.

Incomprehensible suffering.
Will the U.S. at long last
Dig down deep to find some answers
And learn from its mistakes in the past?

-by Bob B (9-19-21)

Russian elections. Oh, boy!
It's THAT time again.
If you said it's time for Putin
To go, I'd say, "Amen!"

But with the help of Apple and Google,
Putin has made it clear
That anyone who wants him to win
Has nothing at all to fear.

He still stifles dissent by either
Putting you in jail
Or finding another way to stop you
That he hopes won't fail.

He doesn't have a very high
Approval rating, but still,
If there's a way to rig an election,
Of course, find it he will.

It would be so nice to be able
To wish the Russians well.
But is there a chance that Putin could lose?
Ha! No chance in hell.

-by Bob B (9-18-21)

Arrested insurrectionists
Are being called by some on the right
"Political prisoners." It seems
That reason and sense have taken flight.

People who are out to hurt
Others and who are inciting fear
Are being called "patriots"!
My goodness! What is happening here?

Elected officials across the country
Are being threatened by the "mob"
For doing what is required of them--
For merely carrying out their job.

Health officials are also threatened
For doing what is expected of them--
For saving lives. How could that
Be something that people would condemn?

From many far-right extremists we're seeing
Violence being normalized,
The effect of which is rapidly causing
The country to be more polarized.

Odious thugs are recruiting thugs.
Election results are constantly being
Questioned for NO legitimate reasons!
It's hard to believe what we are seeing.

And organizers are padding their pockets
While they peddle misinformation.
Threatening our democracy,
They chip away at its very foundation.

What is happening resembles
That which happens when autocrats flower--
When violent thugs pave the way
For fascist leaders to rise to power.

-by Bob B (9-18-21)

A lion, a fox, and an *** went hunting.
Then they had to divide the *****.
The *** was very pleased that the lion
Had conferred on him the duty.

The *** divided the ***** into
Three equal portions. He was quick!
Then he turned to the other two
And calmly said, "Take your pick."

Immediately, the lion pounced
Upon the *** and tore him to pieces.
(I guess the *** was rather naïve
And oblivious to lions' caprices.)

The fox, having observed the scene
And knowing the proper protocol,
Divided the ***** into TWO portions--
One was large; the other was small.

"Ah!" said the lion. "That is perfect.
How did you ever get so smart?"
"I watched what happened to the ***,"
Replied the fox, "and took it to heart."

From the fable we can learn
That we do NOT need to wear glasses
To see that we can learn from others'
Misfortunes, even if they are *****.

But there is still a little matter
About the fable that's hard to ignore:
Why would an *** hunt with a lion?
Since when was a donkey a carnivore?

-by Bob B (9-15-21)

°An Aesop fable, "The Lion, The Fox, and the ***," retold here in verse

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "America: My Country, 'Tis of Thee.")

Something can't be dismissed:
Two nations now exist
In this great land.
How did this come about?
How did divisions sprout?
How did mistrust and doubt
Get out of hand?

One nation wants to be
Ruled by democracy.
That is its goal.
It always sets it sights
On people's voting rights.
When freedom hits the heights,
We will be whole.

Our other nation seems
Sold out to gross extremes.
That's how it thrives.
It finds itself at ease
With fake conspiracies.
On truth it puts the squeeze,
Yet it survives.

One nation has no ties
With far-fetched myths and lies.
Hope is its guide--
Hope that we can be free
From an autocracy--
Hope for equality:
May it abide!

Our other nation cleaves
To myths that it believes
Will make it strong.
*******, it will state,
Is that which makes it great.
Pow'r to discriminate
Is its theme song.

Our country, will it last,
Or is our split too vast?
What do we need?
Let truth and reason reign.
From hatred let's abstain.
Let's all be more humane.
Make that our creed.

-by Bob B (9-14-21)

All day long a fisherman stood,
fishing in a river.
Although he was ambitious, he
Was failing to deliver.

He pulled in his net a final time,
Intending to walk away,
For he was rightfully weary, and it
Was time to call it a day.

"It's too bad," he sighed, trying
Not to be upset,
When all of a sudden he noticed a fish
Squirming about in his net.

The tiny fish pleaded and pleaded
With him to set it free.
"I am HARDLY worth the effort.
Wouldn't you agree?

"Throw me back into the river,
So I can grow for a spell.
When I've become a larger fish,
I could serve you well.

"Right now I am just a tiny,
Insignificant thing.
But later you could put me on
A platter fit for a king."

"What do you take me for--a fool?"
The fisherman replied.
"That you do not amount to much
Cannot be denied.

"How in the world could you expect
That I should release you when
Both YOU and I know that I would never,
Ever see you again?

"Why let go of a certainty,
For something uncertain? And so
You're going home with me, and into
The frying pan you'll go."

The moral? Once in a while because of
The situation you're in,
You must be creative if you
Want to save your skin.

Another moral isn't about
Trying to  save your ****.
It goes as follows: a bird in the hand
Is worth TWO in the bush.

-by Bob B (9-13-21)

°An Aesop fable retold here in verse

Where were you on 9/11
When the frightening news was reported--
When all over the country airline
Flights had to be aborted?

Was your TV show interrupted
With images on your TV screen--
Images that for many were
The scariest that they'd ever seen?

"At my office." "Driving to work."
"In my class." "At the store."
"Watching the kids." "At the gym."
"Just about to walk out the door."

When we got to a TV set,
We gazed at the screen in disbelief.
Minute by minute each news report
Compounded both our terror and grief.

It was hard to comprehend
The sudden loss of so many lives--
Children, friends and relatives,
Brothers, sisters, husbands, wives.

On that day, life for all of us changed.
Sadly, now there's no going back
To how we lived before that time.
When will there be another attack?

Terrorist threats had long existed.
That's a fact that we can't dispute.
However, we also have to fear
Domestic terrorists to boot.

Also, on a single day
The COVID virus has been the cause
Of more deaths than on 9/11.
That number ought to give us pause.

Since 9/11, twenty years
Have passed, yet threats to our lives don't cease.
Question: Can we preserve our freedoms
And also achieve lasting peace?

-by Bob B (9-11-21)

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from THE WIZARD OF OZ, by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg.)


Someday, when there's no COVID, I'll be glad
That advice from the experts proved to be ironclad.

Someday, when there's no COVID, I will smile,
Knowing that our precautions turned out to be worthwhile.

I'll wonder why some people balked
And leaders 'round the country blocked
Restrictions.
They listened to the senseless bull
That spread so fast and was so full
Of contradictions.

Someday, when there's no COVID, we'll be free.
We just all have to practice responsibility.

(Interlude)

We know that masks protect us and
It doesn't help when masks are banned.
That's silly.
And vaccinations help as well.
We know that with them we can quell
The virus. Really!

Someday, when there's no COVID, we'll be free.
We just all have to practice responsibility.

If only everyone could be
Responsible then we...
Would...be...set...free.

-by Bob B (9-10-21)

After having milked the cows,
The farmer's daughter returned to the dairy,
Carrying the large pail of milk
On her head, which was customary.

As she walked along the path,
She gleefully started to fantasize
About the wonderful things she could do
If she could keep her eyes on the prize.

"From the cream I'll make some butter,
Which I'll take to the market to sell.
I'll buy some eggs, from which I'll get
Some chickens and then some more eggs as well.

"Those eggs will hatch and soon I'll have
Dozens of fowls in my poultry yard.
Later, I will sell some of them
And make some money. That SHOULDN'T be hard.

"I'll buy a dress to wear to the fair.
The boys will stare, but I will ignore them.
I'll stick my nose up high in the air
And toss my head and pretend I deplore them."

Having forgotten all about
The pail, the milkmaid tossed her head.
Down went the pail. It crashed on the ground,
The milk spilled out, and her dreams were dead.

Hopefully, she learned her lesson.
In life--it seems--there's always a catch.
It's nice to have dreams, but do remember:
Don't count your chickens before they hatch.

Another moral: always be mindful.
If there's a distraction, try to forgo it.
When doing a task, all it takes
Is one false move, and you can blow it.

-by Bob B (9-8-21)

°An Aesop fable retold here in verse

(Governor Greg Abbott of Texas)

Greg Abbott is on a roll.
The man just couldn't wait until
He signed into law the nation's most
Restrictive anti-abortion bill.

When asked about abortions and ****,
Abbott's answer was pompous and smug.
We will eliminate ****, he said.
What does he have? A wonder drug?

He also signed a bill into law
That demonstrates a recent obsession.
He calls it a voter integrity law--
A euphemism for voter suppression.

(Senator Ted Cruz "Antoinette" of Texas)

Regarding COVID unemployment
Benefits, Cruz spoke to the mobs.
If people are struggling to make ends meet,
Well, he said, let them get jobs.

Easy to say for a man whose pay
Is 174,000 a year--
In dollars, that is--and whose manner
Is unempathetic and cavalier.

(Larry Elder, candidate for governor of CA)

Talk show nitwit Larry Elder,
Is recently pushing Trump's Big Lie.
He says if he loses the recall election,
Then voter fraud is the reason why.

…

Just imagine: these three stooges
Have or seek high positions.
What a shame that we are stuck
With such moronic politicians!

-by Bob B (9-8-21)

You'd think that we'd be better informed
Here in this modern age of technology,
But many people have tossed out reason
And seem to have more faith in mythology.

With access to so much information
To gather, absorb, and analyze,
People are careless, and as a result,
Stupidity is on the rise.

There is a growing suspicion of science
And credible experts and a general mistrust
Of education and research, which makes
Concerned people feel nonplussed.

Misinformation travels so fast
Across the internet, where it's devoured
By millions of people, who couldn't care less
That that's how demagogues are empowered.

Moreover, foreign internet trolls
Love to jump in and stir the ***.
They feed the readers innuendos
And lies until the culprits get caught.

And people jump on the bandwagon
To readily believe what they read.
Their power of discernment seems
To be lacking. At least, it's NOT up to speed.

Add to that hate radio
And internet sites with farfetched news.
As more and more people buy into such nonsense,
Ultimately, we all lose.

Myths and fantasies have their place,
As long as people recognize that.
But when good judgment and reason come calling,
Let's ALL put out the welcome mat.

-by Bob B (9-7-21)

If you think America
Is going in the wrong direction,
And if you want our candidates
To win in the next election,
You might want to help us all
Rout out the bogeyman.
Come and be a member of
The American Taliban.

If you think our country is
Getting too diverse,
If you think that immigrants
Are making matters worse,
And if you fear a great influx
Of people black or tan,
Then you'll fit in quite well with us--
The American Taliban.

We do go by other names,
And we're spread far and wide.
You'll find White supremacists
Standing by our side.
Among us you will even find
Members of the ****.
Whatever the case, we’re proud to be
The American Taliban.

We don't need no evidence;
We just all yell "Steal!"--
At least to make it look as though
Election fraud is real.
To spread around misinformation,
We do what we can
'Cause we are die-hard members of
The American Taliban.

Religious freedom? Oh, yeah…that.
We won't make a fuss
Just as long as you maintain
Religious views like us.
Of women's reproductive rights
Our group is not a fan.
Women are subservient to
The American Taliban.

Racial inequality
And stuff like equal rights
Are balderdash to us, for they
Are damaging to Whites.
It's clear who's been superior
Since back when time began.
That's why we are members of
The American Taliban.

We can stifle democracy
Until it is no more,
For we will spread theocracy
From shore to distant shore.
Help suppress the vote. Come on
And join our caravan.
Our goal: to change the laws to suit
The American Taliban.

Watch: we will infiltrate all
Your cities and your towns.
Elected officials will be replaced,
And even school board clowns.
Justice and the rule of law
Are not part of our plan.
We'll make nonsupporters fear
The American Taliban.

-by Bob B (9-5-21)

A wolf went out for an evening stroll
As the sun was setting
And suddenly noticed his giant shadow,
Which was attention-getting.

The lower the sun dropped in the sky,
The larger the shadow became.
The wolf stopped, gazed at the shape,
And sighed, "What a shame!

"I don't receive enough recognition.
Look how great I am!
The lion says HE'S the king of beasts.
He's a fake--a sham!

"I am bigger than all the other
Animals in this land.
They should all bow down to me,
For I should be in command."

He ostentatiously pranced about,
Exaggerating his worth
And even shouted out loud, "I am
The greatest creature on Earth!"

All of a sudden a shadow approached,
Larger even than his.
Puzzled, the wolf said to himself,
"I wonder what that is."

A moment later, a lion pounced
On the surprised wolf's back
And bit into his neck. The wolf
Cried, "I'm under attack!

"If I had paid attention to facts,
I wouldn't be in this bind.
I could have saved my neck if I'd
Had the presence of mind!"

The Moral? Acknowledging facts is important
If we want to win.
Failure to do so can cause distress
And also do us in.

-by Bob B (9-4-21)

°An Aesop fable retold here in verse

A hungry cat was growing thin
And hadn't eaten for quite some time.
He heard that some local birds were ailing
And thought to himself, "How sublime!

"Certainly, they need a doctor.
I think I can fit the bill.
Once the birds let down their guard,
At THAT point I'll go in for the ****."

He gathered together some spectacles,
A coat, a hat, and a doctor's bag
And dressed up for the occasion, saying
"Looking good, though I hate to brag."

And so the cat presented himself
At the birds' home and said he was there
Because he had heard that the birds were sick
And asked if they needed emergency care.

"No!" said the birds. "Never mind.
Do you think we're that naïve?
We are fine and we will do
Even better once you leave."

Dejected, the cat departed. The Moral:
Villains don't like it when others eschew them.
They may try to disguise themselves,
But people can often see right through them.

It's true that scoundrels can be quite shifty,
Especially hackers and scammers today,
Who hide behind their disguises and wait
Like predators ready to pounce on their prey.

-by Bob B (9-3-21)

°An Aesop fable retold here in verse

Women of Texas, steady yourselves;
The breeze is turning into a gale.
The American Taliban is trying
To force you into a Handmaid's Tale.

Women of Texas, if you are
Of childbearing age, please remember
That wildfires of epic proportions
Can start with only a single ember.

Women of Texas, although they aren't
A panacea that cures all ills,
IF you're concerned, maybe it's time
To stock up on morning after pills.

Women of other states, beware:
The stealers of women's rights aren't through.
Attacks on you and your freedom of choice
Might be occurring in your state, too.

-by Bob B (9-3-21)

Anti-vaxxers have been chanting
"My…body…my…choice!"
As a response to the COVID vaccine.
That's the message they choose to voice.

For years, pro-choice supporters have used
The same slogan, proclaiming their vision:
That when it comes to women's bodies,
What women do is THEIR decision.

Texas legislators have now
Passed draconian abortion laws,
Which are so extreme that they
Put the rights of women on pause.

The laws permit citizens
To act as bounty hunters per se,
Which shows that intimidation in Texas
Apparently will be okay.

For frivolous reasons, anyone
Can take somebody else to court
Who knew someone who needed to end
A pregnancy and offered support.

No provisions for **** or ******:
A case in which there is no maybe.
If a woman is *****, then she
Must deliver the ******'s baby!

No abortions after six weeks?
Let's be frank and not forget
That many women in just six weeks
Don't even know they're pregnant yet.

Republicans in Texas have
Decided that they prefer the song:
"YOUR…body…MY…choice"--
Something they've aimed for all along.

-by Bob B (9-2-21)

Oh, my goodness! Once again
The quacks out there are on a roll,
And they have found their gullible fans
To follow them down the rabbit hole.

Now they're pushing ivermectin--
Which is a horse deworming med.
They'll come up with any nonsense
And then sit back and watch it spread.

Instead of getting vaccinated,
Some people would rather take
A drug that could be dangerous
And possibly put their lives at stake.

There's no proof whatsoever
The ivermectin works to fight
COVID-19 in human beings.
To push the drug is just not right!

In fact, there should be consequences
For doctors who push snake oil solutions
For COVID treatments. How many lives
Will suffer from their contributions?

People need to obtain the facts
In order to gain true self-reliance.
But some insist on saying, "Give me
Ivermectin! To hell with science!"

-by Bob B (9-1-21)

A boy was taking a bath in a river--
An occurrence that was nothing new,
For he was a simple lad who lived
In the country and wasn't well-to-do.

He slipped on a rock and lost his balance
And splashed about with his arms outspread.
Not a swimmer, he didn’t like being
In water that was over his head.

Fearing that he was going to drown,
He called out for help from a passerby,
Who happened to be walking near
The river when he heard the boy's cry.

Instead of helping the drowning boy,
The passerby gave him a scolding.
The boy, struggling to stay alive,
Could not believe what was unfolding.

The passerby said, “It’s careless of you
To go out where the water’s so deep.
When common sense was distributed,
You were probably fast asleep.”

The desperate boy responded by saying,
"Sir, I've listened to what you've told me.
But I would be so grateful if you
Would save me first, then afterwards scold me."

We're not sure what happened next.
Let's hope that the passerby was able
To save the boy so there would be
A happy ending to Aesop's fable.

If we can learn the following lesson
From Aesop's tale, it would be nice:
In crises, giving assistance is more
Important than merely giving advice.

-by Bob B (8-28-21)

°An Aesop fable retold here in verse

While wandering through the forest one day
A lion chanced upon
What he hoped would be his dinner--
A young, injured fawn.

A bear approached who also had
The same idea in mind.
He was starving, for it had been
Some time since he had dined.

Both of them battled fiercely,
Clawing, scratching, biting.
Ultimately, the two became
Exhausted from the fighting.

They lay on the ground severely wounded
And trying to catch their breath,
Realizing how much effort
It took to fight to the death.

A fox had been observing the scene
From not too far away.
Jumping for joy, he said to himself,
"This is my lucky day!"

Too weak to move, the lion and bear
Watched in disbelief
While the fox ran off with fawn
In his mouth. The little thief!

The weary fighters agreed that they
Had been extremely unwise:
All that time they had spent fighting
And the fox ran off with the prize!

Moral? Some work very hard
And never receive acclaim,
While others receive the credit and profit.
What a rotten shame!

-by Bob B (8-26-21)

°An Aesop fable retold here in verse