On the first day of Christmas the White House gave to me:
An alternate reality.

On the second day of Christmas the White House gave to me:
Two NDAs and an alternate reality.

On the third day of Christmas the White House gave to me:
Three Trump steaks, two NDAs, and an alternate reality.

On the fourth day of Christmas the White House gave to me:
Four racist thugs, three Trump steaks, two NDAs, and an alternate reality.

On the fifth day of Christmas the White House gave to me:
Five hundred lies, four racist thugs, three Trump steaks, two NDAs, and an alternate reality

On the sixth day of Christmas the White House gave to me:
Six childish tantrums, five hundred lies, four racist thugs, three Trump steaks, two NDAs, and an alternate reality.

On the seventh day of Christmas the White House gave to me:
Seven Russians hacking, six childish tantrums, five hundred lies, four racist thugs, three Trump steaks, two NDAs, and an alternate reality.

On the eighth day of Christmas the White House gave to me:
Eight super spreaders, seven Russians hacking, six childish tantrums, five hundred lies, four racist thugs, three Trump steaks, two NDAs, and an alternate reality.

On the ninth day of Christmas the White House gave to me:
Nine COVID cases, eight super spreaders, seven Russians hacking, six childish tantrums, five hundred lies, four racist thugs, three Trump steaks, two NDAs, and an alternate reality.

On the tenth day of Christmas the White House gave to me:
Ten crooked pardons, nine COVID cases, eight super spreaders, seven Russians hacking, six childish tantrums, five hundred lies, four racist thugs, three Trump steaks, two NDAs, and an alternate reality.

On the eleventh day of Christmas the White House gave to me:
Eleven lawyers losing, ten crooked pardons, nine COVID cases, eight super spreaders, seven Russians hacking, six childish tantrums, five hundred lies, four racist thugs, three Trump steaks, two NDAs, and an alternate reality.

On the twelfth day of Christmas the White House gave to me:
Twelve new indictments, eleven lawyers losing, ten crooked pardons, nine COVID cases, eight super spreaders, seven Russians hacking, six childish tantrums, five hundred lies, four racist thugs, three Trump steaks, two NDAs, and an alternate reality.

-by Bob B (12-18-20)

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "Tiptoe Through the Tulips" by Al Dubin and Joseph Burke.)

D.T.:
Tiptoe through my tantrums,
Through my tantrums--my reality.
Come tiptoe through my tantrums with me.

Tiptoe through my chaos,
For my chaos is a guarantee
If you stroll through my chaos with me.

If things do not go my way,
I'll try to ruin your day.

Don't try to boss me, double-cross me
Or defy me, if YOU do you'll be
Wrapped up in my chaos with me.

If you don't like what you hear,
That's tough 'cause I won this year!

Do what I tell you
If you don't you'll be up a tree.
So tiptoe through my tantrums with me.

-by Bob B (12-17-20)

The time had arrived; the sleigh was packed
With toys, toys, toys galore.
The first of many trips for Santa.
(He knew he'd have to go back for more.)

"Time to go," said Santa to all
The reindeer that were hitched to the sleigh.
"We have a lot of work to do,
So we had best be on our way."

Santa met with resistance, however;
Red-nosed Rudolph refused to budge.
Santa thought to himself, "Humph!
I guess they'll need a little nudge."

Suddenly, Mrs. Claus appeared
With Santa's COVID mask in hand.
Santa mumbled quietly,
"Here comes my reprimand."

"You forgot your mask, my dear,"
Said Mrs. Claus. "Wear it now.
I know you think it is inconvenient,
But carelessness I won't allow."

"Dear," said Santa, "it's just one night.
The mask muffles my '**, **, **.'"
"I don't care if it's ONE minute;
Put it on before you go,"

Said Mrs. Claus, growing impatient.
"You wear your mask not just for you;
You also protect others. It's
A wise and considerate thing to do.

"And, Rudolph, make sure he leaves it on.
For if he removes it, there will be
Some trouble here when he comes home,
For he will have to reckon with me."

So Santa kissed his wife good-bye,
Put on his mask, and off he went,
Knowing that in life there were
Precautions one shouldn't circumvent.

-by Bob B (12-16-20)

Poor Trump is trying hard
To cover up his deep dejection.
He's attempting to overturn
The results of the presidential election.

Strange, bizarre conspiracy theories
Perpetuated by the Trumps
Are being spread like wildfire
And talk of massive ballot dumps.

Trump sounds like a mad King George
Or a crazed King Lear, losing his mind.
Any semblance of rational thought
In him is getting harder to find.

Frivolous lawsuits of voter fraud
From Giuliani's bag of tricks
Show that they're throwing whatever they can
At the wall in hopes that something sticks.

Sadly, they are undermining
Democracy with such crazy schemes.
They look even more pathetic
By going to such outrageous extremes.

Americans have voted and now
Await with hope a bright new dawn.
The jig is up. The game is over.
Mr. Trump, it's time to move on.

-by Bob B (12-1-20)

It's going to be a quiet Thanksgiving.
But that's all right--that's okay.
Caution now means better chances
Of seeing a future Thanksgiving Day.

Yes, it's sad that COVID-19
Happens to be our current reality.
But hopefully within a year,
We will see a return to normality.

Now with COVID numbers rising
And hospitals filling, it's getting scary.
To get the pandemic under control,
A bit of prudence is necessary.

There can still be turkey roasting,
Gravy simmering, potatoes boiling,
And homemade pumpkin pie beckoning…
And I'll be in the kitchen toiling.

The situation's not ideal,
But we'll get through this; we'll make do,
FaceTiming our family
And having Thanksgiving dinner for two.

-by Bob B (11-22-20)

THIS poem is not about Trump.
It's not about his rise and fall.
It’s not about his constant lying.
It’s not about his fantasy wall.

It’s not about understanding
The reasons people still support him.
It’s not about the unscrupulous
Members of Congress who still court him.

It’s not about his insidious
Attempts to challenge a fair election.
It’s not about the insecure
Manner in which he handles rejection.

It’s not about his passion for
Conspiracy theories and made-up "facts."
It’s not about the far-right extremists
And crazy fringe groups he attracts.

It’s not about how he took
A great nation and in four years
Tore it apart and left it in shambles
And then whined, expecting cheers.

It’s not about his overwhelming
Hypocrisy and how he became--
Because of his moral bankruptcy--
Someone who sullied his very own name.

It’s not about his nepotism,
Corruption, cover-ups, or affairs,
Or how he cares LESS about us
And MORE about his stock market shares.

It’s not about how he mishandled
A deadly pandemic--par for the course--
By listening to quacks and ignoring the experts,
And as people died, he showed no remorse.

What the poem's about is when
Conspiracy theories lose their appeal,
Then and only at that time
Will the nation be able to heal.

-by Bob B (11-18-20)

Back a rat into a corner
And you will find without a doubt
That it becomes surprisingly vicious
As it angrily lashes out.

So if that is your plan of attack,
Heed the warning: be prepared!
Be sure you have the tools you need;
And, above all, don’t be scared.

The best thing to do would be
To stop the problems before they begin.
Be certain that your house is secure
So that no rats can find their way in.

Check the foundation; walk around
And fix whatever the structure lacks.
Don't let the vermin sneak inside
By making **** sure there aren't any cracks.

You can put your house in order.
Consider how much you will have gained.
But don't forget to be vigilant:
A dwelling has to be maintained.

A strong, secure house is the best
Protection against dangerous pests.
Then you can live in relative peace.
At least that is what wisdom suggests.

-by Bob B (11-9-20)

(This poem can be sung to the tune of Jerry Herman's song "Hello, Dolly!")

Good-bye, Donald!
Yes, good-bye, Donald.
You are going to have to leave the White House soon.
And when you leave, Donald,
Do not grieve, Donald.
For you all right, the timing might
Be inopportune.
We always knew, Donald.
It's so true, Donald.
You were never qualified to lead this land.
You made a mess, Donald--
Caused nothing but distress, Donald.
That is one thing we'll never understand.

Good-bye, Donald!
Time is nigh, Donald.
Will you now return to what you did before?
Whom will you scam, Donald,
As you scram, Donald?
Perhaps you think you're in the pink,
But we're keeping score.
Hey, outside your gate there,
Agents now wait there.
So what happens next there's no way to foretell.
One thing we know, Donald:
You have now got to go, Donald.
Will you be tweeting from a prison cell?

-by Bob B (11-7-20)

If you favor a leader who's
An autocrat wannabe;
If locking kids at the border in cages
Is your cup of tea;

If constantly being lied to doesn't
Bother you at all;
If you like a leader who says,
To hell with protocol;

If you think a president should
Surround himself with crooks
And you can't see that he's much more
Dangerous than he looks;

If you don't mind that you are being
Taken for a ride
By someone who's a con man who
Has far too much to hide;

If it's quite okay when someone
Says his words aren't his,
Or says he's not a racist, although
Racists think he is;

If it's fine that leaders don't
Care whom they degrade,
Or will not be responsible
For the mess they've made;

If you admire a president
Who cheated on all three wives,
Or lied about a pandemic that
Has taken many lives;

If you like a leader who
Rants and raves nonstop
And goes all out to help the wealthy
People at the top;

If you approve of a leader who feels
That beggars can't be choosers,
Or one who's called our fallen soldiers
Both suckers and losers;

If you favor an American
President who incites
People to violence and steps
On our hard-earned rights;

Then vote for the one who, in time,
Will leave you high and dry.
I am happy to say my vote
Will go to the other guy.

-by Bob B (10-31-20)

All over America
Injustices are rapidly mounting
As Trumplicans keep looking for ways
To keep every vote from counting.

Democracy is under attack.
What's more, this ugly ballot rejection
Is shamefully occurring right
Smack in the middle of our election!

Early voting has already started,
And yet they continue to change the rules,
Claiming possible voter fraud.
Deception's one of their devious tools.

Throwing out ballots due to petty
Issues is one of their favorite ploys.
Limiting mail-in ballots is
Also a scheme that adds to their joys.

Crippling the U.S. postal system:
Another strategy that will be
Making their efforts to throw out votes
A self-fulfilling prophecy.

The unfair tactics hit minority
Communities especially hard
By limiting opportunities.
Another reason to be on our guard.

And then we have a president
Constantly misleading his base.
He lies about the current system
Of voting and does it with a straight face!

And all of this voter suppression occurs
While a COVID pandemic rages.
We have observed a chipping away
Of democratic values in stages.

How sad it is, America,
That what's going on truly appears
To brazenly discredit a system
That's worked quite well for many years!

-by Bob B (10-30-20)

Hey! Coronavirus here.
Again, please call me Mr. C.
I am planning to hang around
And be your holiday VIP.

You know how I like big crowds,
And this, I say, is worth repeating:
Halloween is finally here,
And I'll be out there trick-or-treating.

It really disappoints me when
People impose gathering bans.
The president appears to be
One of my most supportive fans.

I've already visited
The White House grounds. An easy task--
Mainly because I love it when
People do not wear a mask.

I get around quite easily;
Misinformation helps me thrive.
Notice that I'm breaking records.
Aww, come on and give me five.

Some think that denying my presence
Will stop me from seeking out my hosts.
That's about as effective as
Building bonfires to ward off ghosts.

If you don't bump into me
On All Saints' Eve, or Halloween,
Other holidays soon follow.
I CAN'T resist a party scene.

Excuse me, but I have to go;
I have a lot of work to do.
Maybe I'll see you on Halloween night
When I sneak up and shout out, "Boo!"

-by Bob B (10-29-20)

A message to the POTUS...

Do not tell me while thousands of people
Are dying each week, that you see an end
To what has been a devastating
Pandemic. What? We're rounding the bend?

Do not tell me that just because
You survived COVID-19
With mild symptoms, that you have the right
To push your propaganda machine.

Do not tell me how much you care
About the American people when
All your super-spreader events
Endanger lives again and again.

Do not tell me how proud you are
Of all you've done to fight the virus.
The people know the truth of the matter,
And all of your lies continue to tire us.

Do not tell me that you know more
Than credible experts and choose instead
To listen to someone who spoke on Fox News,
Merely because you liked what he said.

Do not tell me that you can't see
The damage you've done by failing to act.
All your efforts to hide the truth
Exacerbated the danger, in fact.

Do not tell me that I should be willing
To risk my life and then wish me well--
That I'll help save the economy.
Frankly, you can go to hell.

-by Bob B (10-27-20)

If you think we're headed in
The wrong direction and wish to restore
Your trust in the country because you don't
Recognize it anymore,
Vote.

If you think our current "leader"
Has ruined the country and defiled
The office of the presidency
And acts like a spoiled child,
Vote.

If truth and facts are meaningful
And you find it mystifying
How so many people can
Defend a president's constant lying,
Vote.

If you believe in the urgency
Of choosing a person to be the one
Who could undo the damage that
The current president has done,
Vote.

If you're tired of the status quo
And want to see someone defeat
A paranoid narcissist
Who spreads his poison tweet by tweet,
Vote.

If you fear a dismal future,
To save this nation, you have a choice:
As if your life depends on it,
Let your ballot be your voice.
Vote.

-by Bob B (10-26-20)

Policies have repercussions.
Take family separation--
A policy that's practiced by
The Donald Trump administration.

We separated families
Here in the good ol' USA
As a form of punishment
For refuge seekers wanting to stay.

After two and a half years,
Eleven hundred kids remain
Separated from their parents!
Such a practice is insane!

While the government's explanations
Have been untruthful, vague, and distorted,
Five hundred forty-five
Of the kids' parents have been deported.

Lawyers have been seeking the parents.
Imagine the effort the search would entail.
Up to now the monumental
Task has been to no avail.

Separation is bad enough.
But with inadequate record-keeping?
We've sown the seeds of heartlessness;
Look at what we now are reaping.

The policy has been a disaster.
Who could not describe it thus?
Such an ugly picture it paints;
And what does such cruelty say about us?

One could look for an ounce of compassion
Within Trump's heart, but it's no use.
What we've seen is basically
Government-sanctioned child abuse.

-by Bob B (10-21-20)

Irony of ironies.
Tell me: have you taken a peek
At Donald Trump's proclamation--
The one for Character Counts Week?

It refers to integrity
And personal responsibility.
It emphasizes honor and virtue,
Moral character, love, and civility--

All wonderful qualities.
But something here just doesn't fit:
The proclamation clearly drives home
The fact that he's a hypocrite.

He speaks of compassion and understanding
And acts as though he's standing beside us.
However, instead of uniting us,
His vitriol and lies divide us.

His hatefulness has caused so much
Suffering, both here and abroad.
It doesn't take a lot of effort
To recognize that he's a fraud.

The words of the proclamation are fine
And point out worthy aspirations--
That grateful hearts will serve as a "beacon
Of hope for future generations."

But how can anybody trust him?
He can woo us with flowery speeches,
But we can see that HERE Donald Trump
Doesn't practice what he preaches.

-by Bob B (10-19-20)

COVID-19 hasn't left us.
In fact, it's becoming major league
As people grow weary of taking precautions
And slowly give in to pandemic fatigue.

It doesn't help when misinformation
Spreads as rapidly as the disease.
The virus doesn't sing just one song;
Over and over it sings a reprise.

It also doesn't help when people--
Especially when presidents--
Fail to heed the warnings and keep
Having super-spreader events.

Granted, humans are social beings.
But sadly we will pay the price
If our myopia keeps us from making
A necessary sacrifice.

You could get the virus and be
One of the lucky ones. It's true.
Mild symptoms could possibly be
The worst thing that happens to you.

Or you could have a full-fledged case
That could come with a large price tag
As you succumb to the illness and leave
The hospital in a body bag.

Even when there are mild cases,
There have been revelations
That in the future people could have
Unexpected complications.

Listen to the experts out there
And not to distracting words of the quacks.
By following simple measures we
Can stop the virus in its tracks.

Let's not fall into the trap
And think that the dangers are overblown.
The life you save by being careful
Might not merely be your own.

-by Bob B (10-18-20)

So, Amy Coney Barrett,
As Trump's newest recruit
To sit on America's highest court,
"Blessed be the Fruit."°

You shine through the Republicans'
Hypocrisy, and we
Must bite our tongues as we are forced
To answer with "Praise be."°

Your past opinions show how you
Could easily undermine
Individual rights, for there
Is SO much on the line.

Clear responses to the senators'
Questions were so sparse
That your confirmation hearing
Was a total farce.

It's also very obvious
That your suspicious connections
Will throw into question our
Free and fair elections.

The illusion of majority rule
Is slowly being eroded,
As justice for Americans
Has become corroded.

How long until there's pressure to
Replace the word "Goodbye"
With the cold and threatening
Expression "Under His eye"?°

-by Bob B (10-16-20)

°Sayings used in the dystopian society of "The Handmaid's Tale"

I never used to swear that much.
Really. But things have changed.
It's hard to keep from doing it when
One's president is deranged.

His constant tweets are maddening.
I really have to admit
That when I read them, I say he's full of
A word that rhymes with "spit."

To watch his reckless and smug demeanor
Makes me rather sick.
I can't help thinking he acts just like
A word that rhymes with "trick."

When I'm really incensed and feel
He's acting like a schmuck,
Before I can stop it, a word slips out--
A word that rhymes with "duck."

As I watch him destroy this country,
A phrase emerges, which
Starts with the word "son" and ends
With a word that rhymes with "twitch."

When he lies, my sense of decorum
Is difficult to sustain,
And I cannot refrain from taking
A certain name in vain.

When I've lost it, I say that he's--
And I am totally frank--
A blankety-blank, blankety-blanking
Blankety blankety blank.

I know that losing one's cool is not
Behavior considered sublime,
But what the heck? The president
Cusses all the time.

-by Bob B (10-15-20)

Typhoid Trump. How he loves
His super-spreaders! Yes, siree!
All the attention from cheering fans
Fills his hungry heart with glee.

Heaven forbid he wear his mask,
Even though he's been infected
With COVID-19. He doesn't care
If most of the crowd is unprotected.

His Florida friend Ron DeSantis
Saunters past the crowded rows
Of fans, high-fiving them.
Afterwards, he wipes his nose!

While experts want to contain the virus,
Trump's theory is let it spread.
His virus-spreading ego trip
Has him dancing over the dead.

At rallies all over, the president's team
Support his notion of "herd mentality"°
And speak to unprotected crowds.
What a peculiar sense of reality!

Giuliani says people don't
Die from COVID anymore.
Really? Seven hundred people
Died that day. Numbers soar.

Ironically, Pence asks the crowd
At a rally for the president
To applaud first responders! What?
While at a super-spreader event?

What an odd relationship
Between Trump and his promoters!
It's almost as if the Trump campaign
Is trying to **** its very own voters.

-by Bob B (10-14-20)

°Trump meant "herd immunity."

Are you perchance a favor-seeker?
Come on in and join the scores
Of those who want a favor from Trump.
You scratch his back; he'll scratch yours.

Looking for a federal contract?
Wear a MAGA baseball cap
And patronize the president.
See what suddenly lands in your lap.

Perhaps you want an ambassadorship
Or some sort of advisory role.
If so, then be a loyal donor
And maybe you'll achieve your goal.

One day you might need a favor.
If you and Trump are somehow aligned,
He will gladly come to your aid
In case you have a pardon in mind.

You'll gain from your relationship,
And Trump will gain from your support
As you pour hundreds of thousands of dollars
Into a Trump hotel or resort.

What do you need? Laws, funding,
Land, appointments, or maybe directives?
Just send money in Trump's direction
And you can easily meet your objectives.

Is it a myth that he's a successful
Businessman--one of those bosses
Who shine in the business world? If so,
Then why is he constantly racking up losses?

Ah, but Trump has found a way
To redefine the expression "to drain."
In HIS case it means to use
The Office for financial gain.

His promise was to "drain the swamp."
At least, that's how he tried to present it.
But has he really? Not at all.
All he's done is reinvent it.

-by Bob B (10-12-20)

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "Don't Cry for Me, Argentina," by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice.)

D.T. from the White House balcony:

"To all my fans here, I want to say
That I need all your help and support
If I'm going to survive this outrageous ordeal.
It isn't easy.
Enemies want me to fail--yes, that's true.
Only my loyal supporters
Have known what they all have to do.

"For me to keep my power, I had to play.
There were things that I had to distort
To protect all I had and to make me seem real.
I had a mission.
I had to show you that I would come through--
That my people are number one--
While I"--sniff--"am just number two.

"Bow down to me, o my people.
You know I don't want to leave you.
The bonds we have here
Are hard to sever.
If you will let me,
I'll rule forever.

"Regarding experts, I have my own.
I listen to those who will spout
All the words and ideas to which I subscribe.
If they defy me.
I will see they're brought down, yes, for suffer they will.
Especially all of my friends
Who fear me on Capitol Hill.

"Bow down to me, o my people.
You know I don't want to leave you.
The bonds we have here
Are hard to sever.
If you will let me,
I'll rule forever.

"Since you're standing here,
There is something I am sure that you can all see:
All the talk out there about my super spreaders
In no way worries me."

-by Bob B (10-10-20)

The president stood before the mic
And told the public not to fear--
That things were not so bad--but didn't
Say that he was insincere.

He let them think that oh, we have
COVID-19 under control,
As he tried to convince the public
To follow him down the rabbit hole.

He found a doctor who was not
An epidemiologist
To spread his propaganda, and he
Allowed the experts to be dismissed.

He thoughtlessly invited his fans
To rallies where masks were not required
And thought his obstinacy and his
Insouciance made him highly admired.

He scorned those who wore their masks
And knew the virus was a threat,
And when journalists pressed him about
The issue, he'd become upset.

Thinking he knew so much more
Than all of the experts, he made sure
That CDC recommendations
Would soften and remain obscure.

All of a sudden, what do we learn?
The president is hospitalized
For having contracted COVID-19.
Is anybody at all surprised?

The lesson here: denial does not
Make problems disappear on their own.
Always consider consequences,
For we will reap what we have sown.

Negligence as a strategy
Slowly but surely gives danger a boost
When our actions catch up with us--
When the chickens come home to roost.

-by Bob B (10-4-20)

We humans love to speculate,
And many have contended
That they are certain what happens after
Their current life has ended.

Some people think we'll find our reward,
And we'll forever dwell
In paradise, unless we go
The other direction--to hell.

Some believe in purgatory--
A type of stop-off station.
In order to proceed we must
Undergo purgation.

Some insist that we return
To Earth as another being--
That each person's past lives have
Shaped the person we're seeing.

Some might call it consciousness
That undergoes a rebirth.
Others say that heaven and hell
Both exist on Earth.

Some trust that our spirit continues
To live in a type of suspension
Until we can be freed from that
Parallel dimension.

Some people feel that we will all
Cross to the "other Shore,"
Returning to the essence of what
We were once before.

Some conclude that this is it,
So live life while you can,
For we are just a part of Nature's
Vast, infinite plan.

We can believe whatever we want.
That's fine, I suppose.
But what happens after this life ends?
Frankly, no one knows.

-by Bob B (9-28-20)

Continue to weep, America.
Our days of glory appear to have passed.
In the eyes of other countries our once-
Respected status is dwindling fast.

Certainly, we were never perfect;
However, despite our many flaws,
At least our former presidents
Cared about us and honored our laws.

What has happened, America?
What has gone so horribly wrong?
Was our democratic system
Meant to disintegrate all along?

How can democracy be so weak
For a conman to rapidly turn it around
As he destroys our institutions?
Was our foundation so unsound?

Look around, America.
"Land of the free" has become a joke.
Our beautiful and "spacious skies"
Are now filled with ashes and smoke.

"Sweet land of liberty"? No, no more.
Come to seek asylum and you
Will end up being thrown in a cage
Or turned away with a callous "Adieu!"

Look through the lies, America,
That flow down from the one at the top--
From him who demands daily attention
To spread his dangerous agitprop,

Which is backed by his cohorts in Congress.
Shame on all of them. Shame! Shame!
They've sacrificed their integrity
To support the One-Whom-We-Mustn't-Name.

Perhaps there's hope, America.
Even though the line has been crossed,
Maybe there is a chance that we
Can still regain all that we've lost.

-by Bob B (9-26-20)

Let's sing a tale of honor and valor,
Of a legal trailblazer who always will be
Etched in our hearts as a fighter for causes
And known as Notorious RBG.

Criticized and sharply rebuked
For taking a "man's spot" at Harvard Law,
She had a legal intellect
And a glowing work ethic that left folks in awe.

Graduating first in her class
From Columbia Law, she would soon learn
That getting a job wouldn't be easy;
And unequal pay was a major concern.

The fearless fighter wouldn't give up.
Bound and determined, she'd do what was right
And struggle for women's equality.
Justice for all was her noble fight.

Nobody's put on a pedestal;
Equality means that treatment's the same.
That BOTH men and women have full
Citizenship stature was RBG's aim.

Her friendship with Justice Scalia showed
That politics did not have to divide us--
That we can conquer our disagreements
By letting our heart and wisdom guide us.

Words are important when sending a message.
That is what RBG took to heart.
In facing personal challenges,
Her inner strength played such a great part.

For many years she battled cancer
But never failed to keep up with her work.
Responsibility and duty
Were two things that you didn't shirk.

Ruth Bader Ginsburg: how we will miss her!
With sadness and heavy hearts we lament.
How we will miss her carefully thought-out
Rulings as well as her words of dissent!

She died on the eve of Rosh Hashanah
While folks were in the synagogues praying.
They say that righteous people die then.
With RBG, that goes without saying.

Remember this tale of honor and valor,
Of a legal trailblazer who always will be
Etched in our hearts as a fighter for causes:
Supreme Court Justice RBG.

-by Bob B (9-22-20)

Moscow Mitch and Lapdog Lindsey
Have given up on democracy
And fully embraced their thirst for power,
Governed by their hypocrisy.

Power over integrity
Seems to be their guiding drive.
They know that underhanded tactics
Help them keep control and thrive.

Lying for them is par for the course.
With the Trump admin that’s paramount.
How many lies has the president told?
For goodness’ sake, we’re losing count.

Having altered the rules to quash
Obama's prudent Supreme Court pick,
Moscow Mitch has once again
Changed the rules. It makes one sick!

Republicans in Congress now
Mainly sing the same foul song:
"To Hell with the Proper Thing to Do;
Make Up the Rules as You Go Along."

Some misguided voters think
McConnell and Graham are on the level.
Those who perceive their repulsive tactics
Say they've sold their souls to the devil.

For many people, the damage being done
Will last for who knows how many years,
As Trump's four years as president
Confirm some of their deepest fears.

-by Bob B (9-21-20)

DT:
Friends and students, hear my plan
To combat left-wing indoctrination:
I will sign an order demanding
Patriotic education.

Ah, such music to my ears!
I would say it sounds hypnotic:
Ignoring the facts to focus on myths…
That's what I call "patriotic."

There is no white privilege.
I say Whites are the real oppressed.
I want history books to say
That we have always been the best.

The 1619 Project is out.
If faculties don't follow my rules,
They will hear from me, for I'll
Cut off funding to their schools.

Racial inequality
Has no place in history books.
To me it's toxic propaganda.
Can't you see how bad it looks?

The schools have been cheating our kids.
I think current curricula stink.
Teaching blind allegiance is better
Than teaching children how to think.

I want students everywhere
To hear what I call the REAL truth.
And you'll have the privilege of being
Part of the Trump/****** Youth.

-by Bob B (9-18-20)

The president has hammered away
Constantly--year after year--
At major attempts to instill in the people
An overwhelming sense of fear.

Asylum seekers and immigrants
Pose a threat--one that's severe--
And terrorists are swarming across
Our border, he's said, instilling fear.

The free press is our enemy,
He's often said, making it clear
That he thinks he can score more points
By making the people live in fear.

The Democrats are after your guns,
He says whenever he has someone's ear,
Trying to make the people more
Insecure by stoking fear.

You in the suburbs had better beware:
The way of life to which you adhere
Is under attack, he says, as riff-raff
Slowly move in. Once again: fear.

Voter fraud is rampant, he says,
Making a non-issue appear
To be a major problem and hoping
To win again through lies and fear.

The Dems are socialists, he says,
Destroying us. Another smear.
He hopes that he can win more votes
By making up stories and stirring up fear.

The Deep State is out to get him,
He says, trying to profiteer
From making himself a martyr and hoping
To add to his base of voters through fear.

And now his people say liberals
Are arming themselves as the election draws near
To wreak havoc in case he wins.
Another unjustifiable fear.

Such are the ways of an autocrat.
If we want to be sincere,
That he could win four more years
Should be our REAL cause of fear.

-by Bob B (9-15-20)

If you served in the military,
I hope you don't expect to receive
Praise and respect from Donald Trump--
For some, I know it's hard to believe--

If your plane's shot down by your foe
And you become a prisoner of war,
Or if you die on the field of battle.
If so, to Trump, you'll be a bore.

President Bone Spur much prefers
Soldiers who--and this is his thought--
Come home intact from having served
And those, of course, who never got caught.

Visiting a cemetery
To pay respects--to honor the dead--
Is senseless to him, for such a place
Is "filled with losers," the callous man said.

"Suckers" and "losers" are what he calls them--
Those who fought and didn't survive.
To him service and sacrifice
Mean nothing unless you stay alive.

The man is such a hypocrite!
His comments are truly unprecedented.
Do his heartless words reflect
His cruel nature, or is he demented?

-by Bob B (9-4-20)

Social unrest continues to grow.
Demonstrators demand reform.
And speaking out against police
Brutality is becoming the norm.

But in the fiery clash of ideas,
Occasionally, violence ensues.
Instead of watching the peaceful protests,
We see the violent scenes on the news.

And Trump continues to make false claims.
Instead of helping, he fans the flames.

Counter protesters bring their guns
To meet their opponents--face to face--
Ignoring what is the bottom line:
That guns at protests have no place.

"This will be Biden's America!"
The president threatens in speeches and tweets.
No, Mr. Trump, this is YOUR
America: chaos on city streets.

And Trump's comments cause frustration,
Exacerbating the situation.

Trump and his aides respond to the chaos
By trying to stoke the people's fears.
They say the more violence, the better
Trump's chances of winning four more years.

Instead of seeking a unifying
Response, the president scarily
Makes us wonder how many more
Will die unnecessarily?

The situation grows more dire
As Trump keeps adding fuel to the fire.

-by Bob B (9-1-20)

(This poem can be sung to the tune of "There's No Business like Show Business" by Irving Berlin.)

Let's GO ridin' with JOE Biden
'Cause JOE Biden's a pro.
Four years of the Trumps have been appalling,
Full of scandals, chaos, and despair.
I am sick and tired of Trump's stonewalling.
A second term would be too much to bear.

And SO sidin' with JOE Biden
Means YOU already know:
If we want a president who knows the score,
Who knows what the rule of law is for--
The kind of guy who has us coming back for more--
Then let's all vote for Joe!

The nonsense, the bluster, corruption, false claims,
The cover-ups that cover up their crimes,
Betrayals, deception, abuses, the games,
The lack of guidance in these worst of times…
The Trumplicans keep trying to suppress
The voters and have made an awful mess.

We KNOW sidin' with JOE Biden
Will END four years of woe.
Biden really knows the Constitution
And wouldn't use the White House as a prop.
The Biden/Harris ticket's the solution
If you want the nonsense all to stop.

And SO stick it to TRUMP'S ticket;
With JOE'S ticket you'll know
You will find a president who hates deceit,
Who has compassion and does not cheat,
And who won't sit around and watch Fox News and tweet,
So let's all vote for Joe;
So let's all vote for Joe!

-by Bob B (8-29-20)

There always have been wacky people
Looking for an eager ear
To listen to their way-out theories.
Move over, wackos: QAnon's here.

So you thought flat-earthers were crazy
Who have no shame in taking a risk
In saying that the shape of the earth
Resembles NOT a sphere but a disc.

QAnon is way out there.
Conspiracy theories are their lot:
Like ***-trafficking Satan-worshiping
Pedophiles in a government plot.

That Trump was chosen to save us all
Is part of the total insanity--
As though the man hasn't done more
To hurt--not help--humanity.

Desperate people use desperate measures.
Trump called a QAnon member a "star."
(When it comes to overall standards,
He knows how to lower the bar.)

It's hard to imagine how QAnon
Theories could generate such an appeal.
For people to be so out of touch
With reality is a scary deal.

-by Bob B (8-22-20)

What are we but flames brightly burning?
Conditions coincide, and then voilà!
Our gusto that we have for life--our yearning--
Discloses all those moments filled with awe.

What are we but waves upon the shore?
Merging with the constant ebb and flow
Of life until our presence is no more,
As back into the beckoning sea we go.

What are we but dewdrops on a rose,
Glistening in the gentle morning sun?
We can ask, but Nature won't disclose
Where we disappear to one by one.

Consoling thoughts and words appease us now,
But once we've reconnected with our source,
We become expressed in Nature's Vow
To merge us with the universal force.

-by Bob B (8-13-20)

When things are looking bleak and your
Polling numbers are way too low,
Apply underhanded tactics
To vanquish your political foe.

Slowly dismantle the postal system.
Make the problem acutely systemic
By making it harder for people to vote,
Especially during a deadly pandemic.

Attack the system of voting by mail
By making it seem as though it's flawed.
Make your fans believe that it opens
The door to rampant voter fraud.

If TV stations run political
Ads that you don't like, subdue them.
Go after the smaller stations
In certain states. Simply sue them.

Force intelligence agencies
To bend the truth whenever you can.
Get the DOJ to help you
Muddy the waters: a perfect plan.

Continue to seek foreign help
To harm your opponent. Feel no chagrin.
And then stifle investigations--
Anything to help you win.

Say that the system is rigged against you
So that your fans will feel disgusted,
And then if you lose the November election,
Election results will NOT be trusted.

To hide your gross incompetence,
Sow the seeds of doubt and blame.
Get support from sycophants
In Congress--from those who have no shame.

Flout the rules and do whatever
You can to make your critics squirm.
Following all these beautiful tactics
Will help you secure a second term.

-by Bob B (8-12-20)

Although the Wrangler has left the ranch,
Within our hearts he'll be enshrined,
For now he's gone to the last roundup,
Leaving the rest of us behind.

The sky was the Wrangler's favorite rooftop;
Walls couldn't pen him in.
To him the slow destruction of nature's
Wonders was a cardinal sin.

The saddle was his poetry--
His homage to life, a living ode.
When not on his horse, you'd see him riding
His two-wheeled "horse" on the open road.

An expert storyteller he was.
How he delighted us with his tales!
His theory: a little embellishment
Never hurts when all else fails.

And write! How the Wrangler could write--
Each of his letters a work of art,
A masterpiece of expression, replete
With wit and charm that flowed from his heart.

Fishing, hunting, philosophizing,
Photography, and art to boot:
His varied interests, but interest in YOU
Was maybe his greatest attribute.

Sometimes when his patience dwindled,
He could lose it, and who could blame him.
His wife, Barrie, had to try
To tug on his reins to try to tame him.

A legend in his time, he was--
A striking presence wherever he went.
And spending money to help other
People--to him--was money well spent.

Although to the last roundup he's gone,
The Wrangler's lasting imprint survives.
As we say our good-byes, remember
How he enriched all of our lives.

-by Bob B (8-3-20)

Step right up, folks. You will see
That I have a product that's basically free.
The only cost--the only expense--
Is sacrificing your common sense.

Though SOME people give them a different name,
Conspiracy theories are my game.
They're quite easy to get behind
If you have a paranoid mind.

Misinformation can cause confusion
By relegating truth to the world of illusion
And make you think that wrong is right--
That white is black and black is white.

The more outrageous, the more far-fetched,
The more bizarrely the truth can be stretched,
The more my theories will gather force.
Yep, that's just a matter of course.

From PizzaGate to voter fraud,
Conspiracy theories--no matter how odd--
Will spread across the Internet,
Seeking out every space cadet.

Some of the craziest ones we've seen
Are focused on the spread of COVID-19.
The deep state myths are other ones;
Or the Dems are out to get your guns.

The president--one of my biggest fans--
Is such an asset to my plans.
As long as ignorance continues to grow,
My stories will continue to flow.

-by Bob B (7-29-20)

Hey, everybody! Just in case
You thought I was going away…WRONG!
There is so much more I want
To do before I say, "So long!"

I'm sure by now you know my name.
Some people call me Mr. C.--
The "C" being short for Coronavirus.
You must have seen me on TV.

I'm a social kind of guy.
Where there are crowds, I can be found.
You can do your best to ignore me
And act as though I'm not around,

But I rely on your assistance,
Whether you want to meet me or not.
I can easily find you if
You want me to. Give it a shot.

I like traveling around the world--
From country to country and city to city.
If I go before you get
The chance to meet me, more's the pity.

"Look what you have done to our
Economy," people say.
Economies, borders, age groups, gender:
I let nothing get in my way.

My meetings with some are quite protracted;
With some the encounter is short and sweet.
Excuse me now, for I must go.
I've got many more people to meet.

-by Bob B (7-24-20)

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "Strangers in the Night," by Bert Kaempfert, Charles Singleton, and Eddie Snyder)

COVID'S in the air.
It's so distressing.
Though we know it's there,
It keeps us guessing.
Keep avoiding crowds.
That's what is best to do.

Don't let down your guard.
Just keep on trying.
It is not that hard.
(And it beats dying.)
We must do our part;
The country counts on you.

We know droplets fall
When we talk and yell--
Especially aerosol--
When we laugh as well.
We have learned so much.
Safety is--as many say--
A scarf or simple mask away.

And since it's in the air
When we are talking,
And maybe lingers there
When we are walking,
We must all beware,
For COVID's in the air.

Safety is--as many say--
A scarf or simple mask away.

Since it's in the air
When we are talking,
And maybe lingers there
When we are walking,
We must all beware,
For COVID's in the air.

-by Bob B (7-12-20)

Trump says there's no reason we
Should keep our troops in Germany.
How does he know? 'Cause Putin told him so.

The G7 summit would be great
If Vladimir Putin could make it G8.
How does Trump know? 'Cause Putin told him so.

It never seems to matter
What Putin says or does.
Trump will always back
The tyrant just because.

Trump thinks it would be a boon
For Putin to visit the White House soon.
How does he know? 'Cause Putin told him so.

Bounties on our troops in Afghanistan
Couldn't, says Trump, be Russia's plan.
How does he know? 'Cause Putin told him so.

-by Bob B (7-2-20)

As cases of COVID-19 keep rising,
Denial is not the best solution.
Pretending the virus is not a threat
Won't bring about its diminution.

Talking about inflated numbers,
Calling it names like the "kung flu,"
Saying that it will disappear
On its own? Truly, the wrong thing to do.

When people don't heed the guidance of experts
And choose instead to rationalize
Careless behavior, they are allowing
Foolishness to wear a disguise.

Beating this virus requires that we
Work together and do our part
To implement the best and wisest
Practices--to do what's smart.

Maintain social distancing,
Avoid crowds in closed-in places,
And wear a mask when out in public.
We've GOT to stop the rise in cases.

If covering your nose and mouth
To you is a disagreeable task,
Instead of whining about your freedoms,
Just shut up and put on your mask!

-by Bob B (6-29-20)

D.T.:
I'm sure by now you recognize
My wonderful expertise
Of stirring up my base by trying
To put their minds at ease.
If an issue threatens to cause
Danger or distress,
I'll just lie to my fans in order
To gain their faithfulness.

Oh, how I love my rallies
And how they make me feel!
Everyone wants to see me because
I've got crowd appeal.
COVID-19 won't stop my fans;
I defy it to try.
I can win in November even
If some of them have to die.

I deal with serious problems by using
A very special technique:
Ignore them and they will go away,
And DON'T appear to be weak.
If I wore a mask, well,
Then I'd have to admit
That there's a serious problem, and then
The market would take a hit.

Oh, how I love my rallies
And how they make me feel!
Everyone wants to see me because
I've got crowd appeal.
COVID-19 won't stop my fans;
I defy it to try.
I can win in November even
If some of them have to die.

Kim Jong Un gets hundreds of thousands
To praise him in the square.
Maybe they don't have a choice,
But, frankly, I don't care.
When the crowd before me cheers,
It fills my heart with glee.
They see me as their savior, and that
Is ALL that matters to me.

Oh, how I love my rallies
And how they make me feel!
Everyone wants to see me because
I've got crowd appeal.
COVID-19 won't stop my fans;
I defy it to try.
I can win in November even
If some of them have to die.

-by Bob B (6-26-20)

COVID-19 is still around us;
Don't think the virus has disappeared.
In fact, what is happening now
Is just what many people had feared.

Numbers are rising in many states.
Many people have lowered their guard.
While some of us are being careful,
The careless ones are making it hard.

Consistent messaging has been
Lacking from our leadership.
And what kind of guidance are
We now getting? Practically zip!

Because the wearing of masks is required
In certain places, people complain
At city council meetings. It makes
You wonder: Can't they use their brain?

As we reopen, we have to consider
A whole new way of thinking. What's more,
We can't--for now, at least--behave
Exactly as we behaved before.

We should watch how other countries
Got the virus under control.
Something here is not working.
Negligence is taking its toll.

As much as we'd like to wish it away,
Facing reality is a must.
It would be especially nice
If we had a president we could trust.

-by Bob B (6-15-20)

Trump’s America: sad, sad, sad.
The horrors are quickly coming to a head.
After three and a half ugly years,
See where his failure to guide us has led.

What have we heard over and over--
Hateful rhetoric, thousands of lies?
Democratic values to him
Are merely something to pulverize.

Accountability: what's that?
He's fought it every inch of the way.
His low and demeaning attacks on our freedoms
Were bound to blow up in our faces one day.

"What can I do to rally my base?"
He wonders. "Be as obnoxious as ever.
I can do whatever I want;
I just have to pull the right lever."

To unify the country? No way!
That hasn't been a part of his plan.
We've seen what happens when people elect
A president who's a shifty con man.

His groveling toadies in Congress have lost
Any integrity they might have had.
Their cowardly actions have shown us that if
Trump is toxic, they're just as bad.

"A fish rots from the head down."
We often hear that said, I know.
But with all that is happening here,
The old expression is so apropos.

A virus spreads; people are dying.
To Donald Trump, Wall Street comes first.
It's all about attention and money
For which he has an unquenchable thirst.

We know where his loyalties lie,
And it's NOT with us common people, for sure.
Beneath his pompous bluster lies
A man who's weak and insecure.

Come November we have to decide:
Do we give the tyrant the boot,
Or do we allow him to bring the country
Into greater disrepute?

-by Bob B (6-12-20)

You don't have to live in fear
Or be a germaphobe
To be on guard when a pandemic
Spreads around the globe.
Erring on the side of caution
Makes a lot of sense.
The benefits of wise and prudent
Behavior are immense.

So, don’t put your mask away;
Put it to excellent use.
You don’t like the way it feels?
That’s a poor excuse.
If you're asked to wear a mask,
Don't raise holy hell.
Wearing a mask could save your life
And other lives as well.

For certain inexplicable reasons
Some people are loath
To do something that might prevent
The exponential growth
Of COVID-19, a nasty virus
That hasn't left the scene.
It would be nice not to have to
Self-quarantine.

So, don’t put your mask away;
Put it to excellent use.
You don’t like the way it feels?
That’s a poor excuse.
If you're asked to wear a mask,
Don't raise holy hell.
Wearing a mask could save your life
And other lives as well.

Someday we can look forward to
Not having to wear
A mask that covers our nose and mouth
And seems to cut off our air.
For now, let's all cooperate,
And please do not revile
A practice, which--though not so fun--
Is certainly worth our while.

So, don’t put your mask away;
Put it to excellent use.
You don’t like the way it feels?
That’s a poor excuse.
If you're asked to wear a mask,
Don't raise holy hell.
Wearing a mask could save your life
And other lives as well.

-by Bob B (6-11-20)

Look upon the ocean horizon
And tell me what perchance you see.
"I see a ship that's bringing enslaved
People to toil in the land of the free."

This happened over and over again.
Tell me: did black lives matter then?

I see families weeping together.
Ask them why? What did they say?
"They said their loved one was lynched by a mob
Who call themselves the KKK."

This happened over and over again.
Tell me: did black lives matter then?

Why are those people spitting on
Those kids seeking better schooling?
"They don't like the idea of
The country's integration ruling."

This happened over and over again.
Tell me: did black lives matter then?

Why are police using whips,
Tear gas, and clubs on marchers? Take note!
"Ah, they are demonstrators
Marching for the right to vote."

This happened over and over again.
Tell me: did black lives matter then?

Many people seem upset.
What might be the explanation?
"Disproportionate figures of
Brutality and incarceration."

This happens over and over again.
When so, do black lives matter then?

Some people say “All lives matter,”
But all lives haven't for hundreds of years.
Stop rivers of hate and injustice
That empty into an ocean of tears?

-by Bob B (6-9-20)

"I can't breathe!" said a handcuffed man
Lying on the ground, trying to explain
That HE COULDN'T BREATHE! Sadly his words,
Falling on deaf ears, were said in vain.

"I can't breathe!" he said to the cop
Who had him on the ground to keep him in check.
"I can't breathe!" he told him again,
While the cop pressed his knee against his neck.

"I can't breathe!" said the man accused
Of possibly passing a counterfeit bill.
"I can't breathe!" For seven long minutes
The man repeated those words that chill.

"I can't breathe!": words reminiscent
Of Eric Garner's death in twenty fourteen.
"I can't breathe!" should have sent a signal
To others, but why did no one intervene?

"I can't breathe!" George Floyd's words
Were caught on video by someone firsthand.
"I can't breathe!" What about those words
For some of our police is hard to understand?

"I'm about to die!" the suspect added.
Will more black men suffer the same fate?
Finally, the cop removed his knee
From George Floyd's neck, but it was too late.

-by Bob B (5-28-20)

To wear, or not to wear a mask. The question:
Whether we wear a mask and stay protected
From possible contraction of a virus,
Or NOT and have to face the unexpected.

And if we thus throw caution to the wind,
Endangering the lives of those around us,
We will find the consequences costly.
The sad and dire statistics will astound us.

When we question what the experts say
And let ourselves be fooled by sly deceivers,
Then we end up on a wild pursuit
With other dazed conspiracy believers.

Confounded when some leaders give reports
That artfully confuse the truth with lies,
We MUST rely on facts that keep us from
Performing actions that would be unwise.

Experts say if we do not act now,
Later we'll experience regret.
It's not about just saving our own skin,
But other people's lives, lest we forget.

I don't think I'm wrong to say that life
Is something that most people value most.
Therefore, I reiterate that I
Am not so keen on giving up the ghost.

When we see behavior that is careless,
We should know to sound a loud alarm.
Some folks out there do not stop to think
How their recklessness is causing harm.

To wear a mask, of course, is not a pleasure;
For now it's just a necessary task.
But getting folks to wear one: that's the rub.
But tell me: is it way too much to ask?

Spread the word: oh, please put on your mask!

-by Bob B (5-26-20)

Praise to essential service providers
Who daily put their lives on the line.
Such a giant debt we owe them!
May their hearts forever shine!

A special shout-out to doctors and nurses
And other health care workers who strive--
With limited equipment--to keep
Patients with COVID-19 alive.

Praise to epidemiologists
Who give us guidance and rules to follow
When the advice given by some
Of our topmost leaders is hard to swallow.

Praise to all who do their part
To keep a deadly virus from spreading,
Despite scary uncertainties
That make it hard to know where we're heading.

Praise to all who listen to
The voices of reason and do not let
The voices of ignorance cause them to
Behave in ways they'll one day regret.

And while we're praising all these people,
Remember the victims who had to die.
When a government's responses
Are muddled, the cost in lives can be high.

-by Bob B (5-22-20)

“I’m not going to wear a mask,”
The man says with a look of defiance,
As he stands in the midst of a crowd,
Defying common sense and science.

"I don't like the government,"
The man without a mask proceeds.
It only comes in handy for him
When it happens to suit his needs.

"The government is not," he adds,
"Going to tell me what to do."
Only his unreliable
Sources tell him what is true.

"The CDC can't be trusted,"
He says with a look of disdain,
Letting too many conspiracy theories
Seep into his paranoid brain.

"No business or place of work
Can make me wear a mask," he declares.
When it comes to the safety of all,
His words show how little he cares.

"Freedom is what it's all about,"
He shouts, but he just doesn't see
That it has nothing to do with freedom;
It’s merely utter stupidity.

-by Bob B (5-21-20)

I want to see beyond the mountains,
Know what's hiding deep in the sea,
And survey the fascinating features
Of the human heart's topography.

We can scale the towering peaks
So we can see what lies beyond,
And we can probe the ocean’s depths
To understand that giant pond.

The human heart's more problematic;
So many secrets are hidden deep.
At times its depths are hard to fathom,
Its self-protective walls too steep.

We must always keep on searching
And NOT assume that we comprehend
All that can be known, for knowledge
Has no boundaries, no end.

If going beyond our human knowledge
We tap into the Absolute,
Imagine the bliss of suddenly seeing
A transformed being taking root!

-by Bob B (5-17-20)