Mind power! That's what she says:
Mind power. Understand?
That's what made Hurricane
Dorian turn away from the land,

According to Marianne Williamson,
Candidate for the presidency,
Which makes one wonder whether she's gone
Bonkers with a capital "B."

After the hurricane devastated
The Bahamas with a deadly force,
Williamson claims that mind power
Was able to change the huge storm's course.

Mind power kept the storm
From hammering Florida's coast.
That is why the winds and rain
Inflicted minor damage at most.

But if the mind's that powerful,
What happened to mind power when
The storm headed toward the Bahamas?
It didn’t seem to help much then.

How often has the mind altered
Storms? Hmmm. Check the stats.
I guess this shows that there are wackos
Even among the Democrats!

-by Bob B (9-4-19)

Going after football again,
President Trump, feeling miffed,
Challenged the Philadelphia Eagles:
Mess with Trump and vengeance is swift.

Some of the team didn't want to
Attend a White House event, and so
Trump UNinvited the team
And had his own flashy show.

Criticizing the football players,
Trump--who seldom gets it right--
Said that they were insulting our troops.
How he LOVES to pick a fight!

Attempting to show how patriotic
He was, Trump--man of sharp tongue--
Wanted the National Anthem AND
"God Bless America" to be sung.

Standing in front of the military
Choir, Trump sang along.
What's funny is he showed he didn't
Know the lyrics to either song!

-by Bob B (6-6-18)

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (2-21-23)

Dear Donald,

Congratulations. I really like
How you have muddied the waters, my friend.
You keep stressing my talking points
And give new meaning to the word “pretend.”

Not only have you duped your base,
You have your friends in Congress wrapped
Around your little finger, for you
Can lie whenever you feel trapped.

You have worshipers pushing your stories,
Conspiracy theories--the whole shebang.
Just try to polish your storytelling
So that your lies don’t boomerang.

Heaping all the blame on Ukraine
For having meddled in twenty sixteen
In your election helps us both
Advance our propaganda machine.

A weaker Ukraine is good for Russia;
What’s good for Russia is good for you.
Think of all the power we’ll have.
That would be my dream come true.

To me it is a great honor
How you place your trust in me
When your intel agencies
And I happen to disagree.

The way that you obstruct justice
And Congress pleases me as well.
It's right out of my own playbook:
Just tell them all to go to hell.

When you, like me, have total control
Over the media, you're on your way
To being a leader who makes the people
Do what you do and say what you say.

People suspect that I have dirt
On you, but you can rest assured
That all you have to do is follow
My suggestions, and mum’s the word.

Your friend, Vlad

-by Bob B (12-3-19)

Uvalde, Texas. Miah Cerrillo,
A child only eleven years old,
Will never forget a day in May
As she watched a horrible scene unfold.

She was in class when a shooter entered
And massacred kids before her eyes.
The weapon that he used was the type
That spews bullets that pulverize.

To save herself, Miah thought fast.
To trick the killer, she tried to pretend
That she was dead, and that she did
By smearing herself with the blood of a friend.

Perhaps her decision saved her life.
She is lucky to still be alive.
But nineteen other children and two
Teachers sadly didn't survive.

What are lawmakers going to do?
Will they be among the ones
Who truly believe deep down in their hearts
That kids are more important than guns?

-by Bob B (6-10-22)

After years of limited access
To the voting booth,
We are now--once again--
Facing an ugly truth:

While laws making it easy to vote
Should be watertight,
Many Americans do not feel
That voting is a right.

There were the 13th, 14th, and 15th
Amendments. That is true.
But lawmakers STILL found ways to make
Voting hard to do.

Fifty-six years ago
We Americans saw
The Voting Rights Act being
Signed into law.

One would think that that would be
The end of the battle, but no:
Now lawmakers all around
The country are saying, "Whoa!

"We can't make it easy to vote.
NO WAY nohow!
People might vote for the other person,
And that we can't allow."

We must pass the necessary
Laws for voter protections.
If not, we'll have to say good-bye
To free and fair elections.

-by Bob B (8-7-21)

January 6 last year
Wasn't just your average day;
Instead, it was one in which
Dark forces were put into play.

We watched in horror as violent thugs
Stormed the Capitol, leaving behind
A mass of desecration and death,
Reflecting their brutal state of mind.

Capitol police were not
Prepared to handle the riotous crowd--
A crowd eager to show that a peaceful
Transfer of power would not be allowed.

Incited by Trump and even members
Of Congress, the mob chose to defy
The results of a fair, secure election
And promulgated Trump's Big Lie.

Since then, efforts have been made
To gaslight the day's shocking events
By people trying to alter the facts
And siding with the malcontents.

Indictments and investigations
Continue, and the more we learn,
The more we’re aware of things that make
A caring person’s stomach turn.

We MUST insist on the rule of law.
Although the task seems insurmountable,
All who were involved in any
Manner must be held accountable.

Some will celebrate the sixth,
And if they do, shame on them
For seeing the violent insurrection
As something to praise and not to condemn.

If our democracy survives,
May future observers continue to see
The events of January 6
As a blemish on our history.

-by Bob B (1-6-22)

The year: 1921.
The date: the 31st of May.
A White lynch mob gathered at
The Tulsa courthouse late that day.

The goal: to lynch a nineteen-year-old
Black man, who'd been accused of assault,
Perpetuating the racist idea
That Black men are guilty by default.

The man, **** Rowland, had been accused
Most likely because of a misunderstanding.
Nevertheless, the angry mob--
Thirsty for blood--showed up demanding

To take the law into its own hands.
The news spread; the mob grew in size.
Some Blacks--among them some veterans--came
To stop the lynching. Not a surprise.

All of a sudden, shots were exchanged.
A few people died on the spot.
The group of Blacks retreated while
Rumors flourished and tempers grew hot.

The African-Americans lived
In a bustling district called Greenwood. Its fame
Was rapidly spreading; America's Black
Wall Street was its popular name.

Mobs rampaged through Greenwood streets,
Setting businesses on fire,
Looting homes and murdering people.
Rumors and hatred stoked their ire.

Firefighters, who rushed to the scene,
Were under attack and forced to flee.
For eighteen hours angry White mobs
Carried out their ****** spree.

At least thirty-five city blocks
Lay in ruins on June 1st.
Of low points in American history,
This has to be one of the worst.

It's hard to know how many people
Died, for numbers were underreported.°
Historians are grappling still
With information that's been distorted.

Thousands of people were homeless, for over
Twelve hundred homes had been destroyed.
A once thriving, exciting district
Became a charred, horrendous void.

The massacre was not unique;
Others have happened here as well.
The country--though great in many respects--
It has other ghastly stories to tell.

Time does not erase the past.
Don’t let memories become obscure.
We must work together so such
Atrocities never reoccur.

-by Bob B (5-31-21)

°Initially, the state reported 36 deaths. Historians say the death toll was much higher, from 150 to 300 people.

Republicans used to believe
That democratic values will win.
Lately, however, they sing a new tune:
To hell with democracy; save your skin!

Power is what excites them now.
"Voter fraud!" is what they spin.
Voter suppression's their goal as they cry:
To hell with democracy; save your skin!

McCarthy and McConnell knew
The mess that Donald Trump was in,
And yet they chose to honor the motto:
To hell with democracy; save your skin!

It used to be that any support
For an autocrat would be a sin.
Now in bed together they shout:
To hell with democracy; save your skin!

To gain more power, they gerrymander
Districts in states, which is akin
To trashing our system as they proclaim:
To hell with democracy; save your skin!

Deceitful methods to stay in power
They will use and feel no chagrin.
The battle cry uniting them is
To hell with democracy; save your skin!

-by Bob B (4-22-22)

When we last visited Santa,
A sign on which was written "For Sale"
Hung from a post on his property.
It's hanging there still from a rusty nail.

Santa shuffled out to greet us.
Conditions have been taking a toll
On Santa, for it is obvious that
Things aren't going so well at the Pole.

"Welcome back," said Santa, wiping
A little tear from the edge of his eye.
"I wish I could say that things were improving.
Alas, they're not," he said with a sigh.

"The Arctic is warming at such a fast rate!
Believe you me, it's very alarming.
Don't people care about
The habitats that humans are harming?

"Upsetting the balance of nature is having
Disastrous consequences, for now
We are at a tipping point.
How much more will we allow?

"Melting sea ice is making it hard
For animals who need it to thrive.
Polar bears and walruses
Are finding it hard to stay alive.

"A lot of snow and ice up here
Is badly needed to reflect
The sun's energy back into space.
Now we have the albedo effect:

"Water and rock both absorb
Heat from the rays of the sun, which will
Cause even more ice to melt,
Making the earth warmer still!

"Many animals face starvation,
Animals such as reindeer that graze.
As we observe the Greenland ice
Sheet melt, expect bleaker days.

"With the thawing of more terrestrial
Permafrost, methane's released
Into our earth's atmosphere.
Our problems once again are increased.

"I hate to be a buzz ****," he added.
"But my cheerful '**, **, **!'
Is turning into a dire warning--
Now it's more of a 'Whoa, whoa, whoa!'

"No one wants this property,
Other than polluters and drillers.
But I refuse to sell to climate
Change deniers or habitat killers."

Mrs. Santa called from the house.
"The missus needs me," he said. "So long.
Tell everyone that Santa needs
A climate change Christmas song."

With that, he turned and left us standing,
Baffled, bewildered, sad, distraught.
Some folks might be fooled by deniers,
But one thing's for certain: Santa's not.

-by Bob B (12-10-19)

As Trump speaks from his bully pulpit,
Spreading more nonsense and lies,
White nationalist violence is
Definitely on the rise.

He may downplay atrocious behavior
And overlook figures and facts,
But other leaders feel that they're given
The right to commit egregious acts.

Listen to the president's words.
It isn't hard to see where he stands.
If fans don't get their way, he says,
They'll take matters into their own hands.

We know when Trump gives a command
In code or directly, some will jump.
He claims he has support from police,
The military, and Bikers for Trump.

Immigrants are "invading" our country;
Rough up hecklers. Those words are his.
He may claim he's not a racist,
But white nationalists THINK he is.

-by Bob B (3-18-19)

Florida wants to show
Its hateful, nasty side
By lashing out at gays
With zeal that it won't hide.
Governor DeSantis
Will not be outdone.
He wants to make a case
Where there's really none.
But who cares what
DeSantis has to say?
Turn his words around
And don't be afraid to say gay.

Other states will now
Attempt to follow suit
With explanations that
They will convolute.
It matters not to them
What is right or wrong.
It's just a culture war
That nudges them along.
When states try to put
Their bigotry on display,
Turn their words around
And don't be afraid to say gay.

Using toxic words
Like "groomers" to suggest
That anyone who's gay
Is on a lecherous quest,
Backers of the bills
Frequently beguile
Voters with the use
Of words like "*******."
When fanatics try
To bully you this way,
Turn their words around
And don't be afraid to say gay.

Autocratic rulers,
Backed by troglodytes,
Despise tolerance
And stomp on human rights.
Don’t let other people
Intimidate you. No!
Just be who you are,
And tell them where to go.
Love is love is love,
So don't be led astray.
Turn their words around
And don't be afraid to say gay.

-by Bob B (4-11-22)

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)

“Lock her up!” Trump’s fans would yell
At campaign rallies in 2016.
Trump just ate it up, for he
Loves to see his fans make a scene.

Over and over, Trump would harp
About Hillary's emails, and then,
When his subsequent rally occurred,
He started in all over again.

The alleged mishandling of classified docs
Became Trump's wild and crazy fixation.
The mere mention of jailing Clinton
Would get from his crowd a loud ovation.

It didn't matter that there was no proof
Of willful negligence involved;
To lambaste Clinton in any way
He could, Donald Trump was resolved.

We know that Trump engages in conduct
That he accuses others of doing.
The FBI has taken his classified
Docs, and now the man is stewing.

In office, Trump had signed into law
A bill cracking down on anyone
Willfully mishandling
Classified docs. But what has he done?

Exactly that! Allegedly.
How ironic if we should find
That Trump is guilty and sentenced under
The very same law that he had signed!

Covering up his many wrong-doings
And breaking the rules with pomp and glee
Have been Trump's M.O. from the start.
But will it blow up in his face? We'll see.

-by Bob B (8-28-22)

If we are a compassionate land
That genuinely cares about others,
We shouldn't separate families
And rip kids out of the arms of their mothers

And then place them in foster care,
Or in what John Kelly would call
"Whatever," thus allowing the Trump
Administration to play hardball.

Refugees seeking asylum:
Look at how we cruelly mistreat them.
They follow the rules and knock on our door,
And then look at how we greet them?

Ah, so being cruel is supposed
To be a deterrent. That will explain
Why certain leaders feel that they
Can justify being inhumane.

The children--one was just a year old--
Are often taken to different states!
In both the mother and in the children,
Imagine the trauma that this creates.

And then Trump further muddies the waters--
Playing the usual Trumpian game--
And writes an obnoxious tweet saying
That Democrats are the ones to blame!

My country 'tis of thee, it's not our liberty
Or our humanity of which we sing.
Don't spout that righteous stuff, for we have had enough.
If it's all just a bluff, to what can we cling?

-by Bob B (5-26-18)

Hey, Sarah Huckabee Sanders,
Now you know how others feel
When they go to a restaurant
And aren't allowed to order a meal;

Or when they visit a business from which
They're turned away--for goodness' sake!--
Because the owners flatly refuse
To bake them a wedding cake.

Take a walk in the shoes of others,
Sarah, instead of pontificating
And parroting the president's lies
Without even hesitating.

Unfortunately, you have chosen
To back an agenda, vile and hateful.
You can hardly expect that those
Who suffer from it are going to be grateful.

Displaying a bit of empathy
Would make you sound a little smarter
And more caring, unless you prefer
To play the put-upon victim or martyr.

-by Bob B (6-29-18)

Hey, I've made it to 900!
That's a lot from what I've been told.
But first, let me be very clear:
I don't mean 900 years old!

Nine hundred means 900 poems--
Poems I've "published" online so far.
The topics vary from poem to poem
As I expand my repertoire.

People ask me why I do it.
It just became a way to express
My feelings about the world around me--
A personal challenge, more or less.

When people don't like my style and imply
It's THEIR way or the highway,
I say, "You write in YOUR manner;
I'LL write my poems MY way."

What will inspire me next? Who knows?
I call on my Muse for inspiration,
To help me articulate my thoughts
Without seeking approbation.

I like music--songs and ballads--
And often write poems that can be sung.
And though I know a few languages,
I always write in my mother tongue.

Politics I find intriguing;
Thus, I often feel compelled
To let my poems comment on life
And not to let my voice be quelled.

Of course, that gets me in trouble sometimes,
Especially when I arouse
People's ire by commenting on
Or criticizing their sacred cows.

I’d like to say that writing's a breeze,
But, no, that would not be true.
So here you have it: poem 900.
I dedicate this one to you.

-by Bob B (10-22-19)

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)

SECURITY CLEARANCES

Rules at the White House...Who reads them?
Proper procedures...Who heeds them?
Security clearances
Make scant appearances.
The attitude is: Who needs them?

-by Bob B (2-20-18)

ON ****** MISCONDUCT

Trump says you just have to say,
“I didn’t do it,” and they
Will blame your accusers
And call them all losers.
That’s life in Trumpworld today!

-by Bob B (2-21-18)

GUNS

More GUNS in our schools, Trump swears,
Will STOP the school shootings. He dares
To repeat what the vice pres
Of the NRA says.
They're BOTH lacking something upstairs.

-by Bob B (2-23-18)

HIRING THE BEST?

We know that Trump knows how to fire ‘em,
But how does his conduct inspire ‘em?
Three of his men
Are felons now. When
Will HE ever learn how to hire ‘em?

-by Bob B (2-23-18)

REFORM

Gun-law reform will crash
If Trump believes that it's rash.
The gun lobby's puppet
Will never give up; it
Is hard when you count on their cash.

-by Bob B (2-24-18)

Watch as the hawks preen their feathers.
Searching the landscape, they keep track
Of what is happening all around them
Before planning their attack.

Having a keen sense of vision
While on the lookout for easy prey,
They don't care how others see them
As long as they can win the day.

Traditional diplomacy?
No, that's not part of their plan.
Their hearts are set on crushing their victims
And seeing how far their wings will span.

Conflict seems to energize them,
For conflict is their food, their source
Of livelihood. They don't care
If others suffer. There's no remorse.

Surreptitiously, they act--
Never flaunting their true intent.
Their prime tactics cause confusion--
A truth they try to misrepresent.

They say that acting so is their nature.
Does ALL their aggression make them feel joyous?
It’s sad to suddenly realize
That they were always out to destroy us.

Peace comes at a giant cost
As high above us they circle and soar.
Negotiating with them is useless
When their minds are set on war.

Don't be taken in by their cunning.
Don't fall prey to their devious cries.
Save yourself and others by knowing
How to separate truth from lies.

-by Bob B (5-11-19)

2023--Memorial Day.
Remembering those who lost their lives
Defending this country, we should continue
To hope that democracy survives.

Many died protecting our land
From countries under fascist rule--
Whose authoritarian
Rulers were abusive and cruel.

Rights were restricted and scapegoats received
Treatment brutal and inhumane.
And humankind suffered another
Bitter, sad, and indelible stain.

Vigilance is required here,
For there are people who prefer
To overlook the lessons from
The past. The horrors could reoccur.

In nations that seek out people to blame
For all the ills that beset the land
And blatantly flout the rule of law,
Democracy loses the upper hand.

Countries are in a great deal of trouble
When voting's restricted and people aren't fazed,
When institutions come under attack,
And when violent thugs are praised.

Those who died defending this country
In the air, on land, or on the waves,
When seeing how some are abusing our rights,
Have to be rolling in their graves.

-by Bob B (5-29-23)

I keep hearing
People say
That facts often
Get in the way.
Bombarded by
The constant chatter,
I'll merely say,
"Facts matter."

- by Bob B (2-15-17)

Take a stand for democracy
When you go to the polls.
Watch out for the shenanigans
Of Right extremist trolls.

Pay attention to candidates'
Records from the past.
Often they will lie and say
Their views have been recast.

Watch out for the ones who cheat,
Pretending to be fair.
Once you vote them in, they will
Devour you in their lair.

Be aware of hypocrites
Who smile but keep their sights
On any tactic they can use
To threaten women’s rights.

Do not vote for those who don’t
Have YOUR interests at heart.
Their loyalties to wealthy donors
Play a giant part.

Vote for those whose messages
Are reasonable and not
For those who let conspiracy theories
Color every thought.

Vote for those who want to keep
Democracy afloat,
And not for those who go all out
To make it harder to vote.

Vote for those who do not condone
Violent measures to gain
Power to toss our democratic
Values down the drain.

Take a stand for democracy;
It needs you more than ever.
When demagogues say, “Vote for me!”
Tell them, “Never! Never!”

-by Bob B (9-3-22)

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)

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)

The mission graveyard was peaceful and calm.
Sporadic gravestones and crosses marked
The final resting places of some
Who for some reason had embarked
 
On a new journey--a new phase--
A final, unavoidable transition.
Their remains still sleep, I hope undisturbed
By visitors at the sleepy mission.
 
Swaying in the gentle breeze,
The olive trees wistfully cast
Their shadows on the neglected sod
And on the graves that we wandered past.
 
Reading the carved inscriptions on the gravestones
Brought so many questions to mind:
Who were the people buried here?
Whom did they sadly leave behind?
 
Were they rich or were they poor?
Was their life easy or hard?
Was it pestilence, age, or violence
That brought them here to sleep in this yard?
 
My glance fell upon a simple stone.
I couldn't help but think that maybe
Some people's lives had been torn apart;
Carved in the gravestone was one word: Baby.
 
Oh, Life and Death, you keep us wondering.
No matter how much we people yearn
To second-guess you, you surprise us
And deliver us to the grave or urn.

- by Bob B

A wealthy merchant lived in a house,
No, in a mansion on many acres.
He had scores of servants to help him,
Along with drivers, butlers, and bakers.

The mansion itself wasn't the safest
Place in which to live, for it
Had dangers lurking about, and many
Would say that to live in, it was unfit.

The building had only ONE entrance,
Which meant that people could be in a scrape
In case an emergency arose
And all the occupants had to escape.

One day indeed a fire broke out.
The wealthy merchant was petrified.
Although his staff all left the building,
His children continued to play inside.

"Children, run out quickly!" he yelled.
"You'll die if you don't listen to me."
Ignoring him, his children kept playing,
What would it take for them to flee?

Then the father had an idea,
Even though it wasn't true.
"Children, leave the house right now.
I have some carts that are waiting for you.

"Some are pulled by goats, while some
Are pulled by deer or oxen," he said.
"Stop playing inside. Come out
And play with these gorgeous carts instead."

The children, excited, pushed their way
Out of the house, escaping the fire.
Outside, the promised carts were not
To be seen. So, was the father a liar?

In the meantime, the father was having
The most incredible carts created
Ever seen by anyone.
The eager kids stood by and waited.

Beautiful beyond belief,
The carts were covered with gems and flowers.
Pure white oxen pulled them around.
The kids delighted in them for hours.

If the father hadn't thought fast,
The fate of his children could have been grim.
The gift he gave them exceeded his promise.
Their safety was what was important to him.

Our great house is burning, too.
If benefits of leaving seem small,
By heeding the words of the experts, we'll find
A greater gift awaiting us all.

-by Bob B (8-16-23)

°From THE LOTUS SUTRA

Rick Perry° has joined the cult
That calls Trump the Chosen One.
Sorry, but that's a game that should be
One with no trumps. Pardon the pun.

To give Trump such an undeserved
Title can only underscore
How much a person has to question
Perry's sanity all the more.

I can think of better titles:
Wannabe Strongman, Liar in Chief,
Security Threat, Hypocrite,
King of Corruption, or Causer of Grief.

But Chosen One? Let's be serious.
Could God really be so daft
To let the Chosen One be Trump?
If so, we've been given the shaft.

-by Bob B (11-25-19)

°Secretary of Energy for Donald Trump

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)

Back in the 1950s my cousin
Met a guy, and later they wed.
For sixty-four years they were together,
Until her death parted Shirley and Ed.

They moved to gorgeous New Mexico--
The state where their three kids were bred.
The mountains, mesas, and desert splendor
All were captivating to Ed.

He worked for Sandia Laboratories
And therefore wasn't a knucklehead.
But we never knew what he really did.
A top-secret kind of guy was Ed.

When people didn't use their brains,
He likened them to the living dead.
Critical thinking was high on the list
Of priorities for wise ol' Ed.

A die-hard atheist he was.
One thing that made the man see red
Was forcing religious beliefs on others.
That was anathema to Ed.

No, he was a man of science and reason,
Astute and knowledgeable. He said
That all religions are based on myths,
And myths are myths, according to Ed.

Some say that without religion you can't
Be ethical, but there's no shred
Of evidence to prove that theory.
A perfect example was honest Ed.

He wasn't what you’d call a big spender.
Wasting money was something he'd dread.
Thus, he lived quite frugally,
Though comfortably, if you'd asked Ed.

But he loved friends and family
And welcomed them with arms outspread.
Though he could be a curmudgeon at times,
You couldn't help but like dear Ed.

Until recent years, it was
Quite an active life that he led.
When he was still in his 80s, you could
Play a match of tennis with Ed.

There are people who'd benefit
From following the path he tread.
An active life and an active mind
Were key facets of life for Ed.

Now that he's left us, I can no longer
Chat with him on the phone; instead,
I will rely on my memories--
My memories of dear ol' Ed.

-by Bob B (12-24-22)

I ran into Tom the Turkey again.
It's been a year since I saw him last.
He told me he was trying out
A recommended Thanksgiving fast.

"If everybody would fast today,"
He said, "wouldn't THAT be sweet?
They'd be healthier; instead,
They gorge themselves on turkey meat.

"The president can pardon turkeys.
That is something I'd like to discuss
With White House folks. If HE can do that,
Why can't he pardon ALL of us?

"It's getting harder for me each year
To find a place where I can hide.
I've tried to disguise myself, but that
Is awkward. You know I've got my pride.

"People are always making up stories.
Maybe I will do the same.
Spread the word: the meat from turkeys
Is bad and it will bring you shame.

"So it's not true. That doesn't matter.
My goal is to hoodwink and I can achieve it.
People who like conspiracy theories
Are gullible enough to believe it.

"In the meantime, I'm going to keep
A very low profile again today."
He waddled off, wishing me
A happy Thanksgiving anyway.

-by Bob B (11-23-23)

Our enemy's sly and insidious.
To recognize it is hard.
It's always lying in wait
To catch us off our guard.

It doesn't announce its presence.
With fanfare and bold display.
Its surreptitious maneuvers
Easily lead astray.

What or who it is
Usually eludes us.
Its ensnaring grasp
Usually includes us.

How to rout it out?
We haven't as of yet.
IGNORANCE is our enemy
And also our greatest threat.

The rest of the world is totally shocked:
There is no refuting
That we have a serious problem here
With shooting after shooting.

Other countries attack the problem
By swiftly taking action.
Currently, Americans don't
Have that satisfaction.

Legislators beholden to
The gun lobby feel
That if they pass commonsense laws,
They won't have a deal.

A deal? What? Money? Donors?
The fear that they'll lose votes?
Look at all the deaths that their
Failure to act promotes!

Red flag laws? That's a start.
Background checks? A must.
Efforts to stop the violence
Must be more robust!

Assault weapons? They must go.
Instead of getting a boost,
High capacity magazines
Have to be reduced.

Strip the NRA of its power
And weaken its stranglehold
On politicians everywhere.
Weapons must be controlled.

Now THAT is what I call a start--
A commonsense response
To dealing with a deadly threat
And dangerous nonchalance.

We must wonder how many more
Shootings will take place
Before America deals with
The problem face to face.

-by Bob B (9-3-19)

"When your daddy's filthy rich,
Take the opportunity
To use his wealth so you'll become
A SELF-MADE billionaire like me.

"Dubious tax schemes help a lot
When Daddy Trump's income waxes.
You and he can benefit from
Committing fraud and dodging taxes.

"A sham corporation allows
You to disguise millions in "gifts."
Improper tax deductions
Speed along these money shifts.

"Undervalue real estate holdings
By millions of dollars. We've deduced
That when the property's transferred, your
Tax bill will be greatly reduced.

"Be creative, explore loopholes--
Even deception and obfuscation.
If you're under scrutiny,
Feign utter indignation.

"Later, when your fortune increases,
Say that you have serious concerns
About the need for anyone
To see your personal tax returns.

"****** your fans by spinning your tale.
Lie, cheat, do what you can
To let them think their president
Is from the start a SELF-MADE man."

-by Bob B (10-3-18)

Recently, four seniors
Didn't don their caps and gowns
And walk down the aisle as did
Seniors in other cities and towns.

These four seniors' lives were cut short
In the city of Parkland in February.
While their classmates reveled, they
Slept somewhere in a cemetery.

These are just four who have died
In shootings across the country this year.
And though there's been talk of change,
Definite action remains unclear.

Sure, some lawmakers
Have said, "Look! We're getting tough,"
And passed some minor legislation.
But baby steps are NOT enough.

At least more candidates
Now are NOT afraid to say
In campaign ads in many states,
"I'll stand up to the NRA."

Meanwhile the NRA hopes
That memory loss supersedes
People's desire for action. We lose
When complacency succeeds.

Remember that we need more
Than just a prayer and a simple "Amen."
We need to unite, to act, to vote.
Never again means never again!

-by Bob B (6-18-18)

We’re your friendly Republican
Legislators! Yay!
Whether state or federal,
We are here to stay.
We will change the laws to make
Sure that we maintain
All the power that we want;
We won’t let it wane.

We will use all strategies
To get what we desire--
Even if we have to lie,
Hoodwink or conspire.
If we make it hard to vote,
That will help us win,
As we watch opponents fall
Into a tailspin.

If opponents get perchance
More votes, we won’t grieve,
For we have something really quite
Sneaky up our sleeve.
It will be an obstacle
Easy to surmount:
We’ll find devious ways to make
Opponents' votes not count.

If you look into our eyes
And see we have no soul,
That’s okay ‘cause all we want
Are power and control.
If sacrificing democratic
Values in order to keep
Our power and authority,
We don't give a (bleep).

-by Bob B (3-26-21)

Vote, everybody!
Vote to protect
Women's right to choose.
Vote to slow down
Climate change.
Otherwise, we all lose.

Vote to preserve
Equality:
Marriage rights for all.
Vote to save
Democracy
In our election this fall.

Vote to uphold
The rule of law.
Do NOT lower the bar.
Make all people
Accountable--
No matter WHO they are.

Vote to protect
The environment
From damage and abuse.
Vote to defend
The Constitution
From dangerous misuse.

Vote to fix
Our broken system
Of immigration laws.
Vote against those
Who aim to put
Human rights on pause.

Vote for folks
Who are loyal to
Our Constitution and try
To do what's right.
Don't be fooled
By candidates who lie.

Vote for effective
Gun laws that make
Our country a safer place.
Vote to give kids
A good education.
That's something we must embrace.

Vote so we
Can have more judges
Who do not impose
Extremist views
Upon the people.
We have too many of those.

Vote for a system
Of fair taxation--
A workable system in which
All people
Can benefit
And NOT just the rich.

Vote to support
Diversity.
So much is at stake.
Don't give in
To apathy!
Vote, for goodness' sake!

-by Bob B (7-28-22)

Saturday night, November 19:
A gunman entered a bar
And started shooting at those who were present,
Leaving a somber scar

On many lives, for five were killed;
Their lives can't be replaced.
Such a shooter lives with hatred
And anger interlaced.

Nineteen others were injured there.
Their lives will never be
The same again, for they'll live with
That dreadful memory.

The patrons used to consider the club
A place where they could feel
Safe and secure with being themselves--
A place where they could be real.

No longer will that be the case.
The LGBTQ
Community has once again
Seen malice flourish anew.

Vicious words and violent speech
Have gotten out of hand,
And people lose their humanity when
The fires of rancor are fanned.

Hatred comes in many forms
And leaves a nasty smirch
On all of us, and sadly it
Is often taught in church.

-by Bob B (11-22-22)

This is the tale of a felon.
Guy Reffitt is his name.
Aligned with the Three Percenters,°
He plays a dangerous game.

He had been planning a trip
To Washington, D.C.
It wasn't to tour the city;
It wasn’t a shopping spree.

On January 6
In 2021,
At the Capitol, Reffitt
Was present and armed with a gun.

He was also equipped
With zip ties and body armor.
This man from the state of Texas
Looked like quite the charmer!

There to "take the House"
Was Reffitt's insidious plan--
To "rip them out by their hair!"
What an upstanding man!

On multiple felony counts
Reffitt was later convicted--
On five to be specific.
That should have been predicted.

One count was for obstruction
Of justice. Reffitt got caught
Threatening two of his kids
By telling them "traitors get shot."

When Reffitt receives his sentence,
Let's hope that he gets no reprieve.
What other brutal attacks
Does the **** have up his sleeve?

Good luck now, Mr. Reffitt.
We hope you enjoy your stay
At a federal prison,
Learning that crime doesn't pay.
You'll have time to reflect on
Your stupid behavior that day.

-by Bob B (7-19-22)

°A far-right militia group

For what occurred on March 7,
There was truly no excuse.
Although the day started out calmly,
Before long all hell broke loose.

The year: 1965.
Selma, Alabama: the place.
Six hundred marchers for freedom
And state troopers stood face to face.

The goal of the marchers was a demand
For equal rights in the voting booth,
For the tight grip of Jim Crow laws
In America was an ugly truth.

The plan: a peaceful march from Selma
To the Alabama capital, where
They would take their grievances
To the governor. What's fair is fair.

Reaching the Edmund Pettus Bridge--
Named, by the way, after a man
Who'd been a Confederate general
And member of the Ku Klux ****--

The marchers stopped. The state troopers
Told them all to turn around.
However, the marchers, one of whom
Was John Lewis°, stood their ground.

Soon the state troopers advanced,
Wearing gas masks and waving their sticks.
They threw some whips and tubing wrapped
In barbed wire into the mix.

Men, women, and children were beaten.
Blood was flowing; marchers were screaming.
Some of white spectators were
Holding Confederate flags and beaming.

That evening, while millions were watching
"Judgment at Nuremberg" on TV,
The movie was interrupted by scenes
Of the brutal assault for all to see.

The day is known as ****** Sunday--
A day that we should never forget.
And yet today the voting rights
Of people of color are still under threat.

When we restrict the right to vote,
Democracy's up against the wall.
No one is free until ALL are free.
Equal rights means justice for all.

-by Bob B (3-6-21)

°American politician, statesman, and civil rights activist who served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1987 until his death in 2020

George and Martha°--what a couple!--
Blurring the lines between truth and illusion,
Undoubtedly aided, of course, by the *****
Which loosens their tongues as they drink in profusion.

Attacking, needling, going for the jugular--
Oh, the vicious games they play,
Going at each other, and also pulling
Other people into the fray.

Must truth and illusion be so hard
To distinguish between and cause despair?
Do we rely on illusion when
Facing the truth is so hard to bear?

How destructive that can be!
It's obvious that things will go bad,
And we can relate to Martha's words:
"George and Martha: sad, sad, sad."

The truth is there if we dare to seek it.
It isn't something we ought to eschew.
Are you afraid of Virginia Woolf?
If so, then you should know what to do.

-by Bob B (2-20-23)

°From Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?"

A miller, with his son in tow,
Was taking their *** to the market to seek
A buyer for the animal.
They needed the money, for times were bleak.

Soon they encountered a group of girls
Who giggled and laughed and starting chiding
The two, by saying, "You are fools.
Why are you walking when you could be riding?"

And so the miller made the boy
Mount the *** while he walked.
After some time, they ran across
A group of friends and stopped and talked.

"You'll spoil your son," the friends remarked,
"By letting him ride while you trudge along.
You should ride and let him get
Some exercise to make him strong."

Therefore, the miller exchanged places
With his son and rode on the ***.
Soon a party of women and children
Approached the miller and son en masse.

"What a selfish old man!" they said.
"He rides in comfort while his kid
Must plod along behind him. Hmmm.
Has the old guy flipped his lid?"

So then the miller told the lad
To sit behind him. After a while
They ran into some travelers whom
They'd seen approaching the last quarter mile.

"Is that your ***," they asked, "or is it
One that you have merely rented?"
"It's mine to take to the market to sell,"
The miller said, slightly tormented.

The others replied, "The animal
Will be so tired when you get to town
That no one will even look at it.
If you were smart, you'd both get down."

The two climbed off the ***'s back.
To minimize damage control,
They tied the ***'s hooves together,
And through its legs they slid a pole.

And so they carried the *** who hung
Upside down from the pole. The sight
Had to be insanely bizarre.
And you and I know that ***** aren't light.

Onward to town they continued.
When the villagers saw them come near,
The scene was so ridiculous
That all they could do was laugh and jeer.

They had to cross a wooden bridge,
The miller and son--still market bound.
All of a sudden the *** broke its ties
And fell into the river and drowned.

The miller stood there stunned and ashamed.
He said to his weary son, "Let's go.
Why we listened to all those people
And all their advice, I don't know."

On their way home, he said to the boy,
"I hope you learned a lesson, my son.
And that is when you try to please all,
You will end up pleasing none."

-by Bob B (8-12-21)

°An Aesop fable, "The Miller, His Son, and Their ***," retold here in verse

Dangerous you might call her.
Off her rocker as well.
Her strange, obnoxious behavior
Is hard for her to quell.

How she was ever elected
Is anybody's guess,
And yet she's found supporters
To give her the guise of success.

Totally out of place
In Congress, she carries on
As though her sense of decorum
And decency are gone.

She heckles speakers in Congress
And always seems to be lusting
After ill-gotten attention.
Her antics are disgusting.

Her wacky QAnon stories
Are so far off base
That any sensible person
Would find them hard to embrace.

Now she's attacking opponents
In her typical style:
If you oppose her ideas,
You're called "pro-*******."

She lives for lies and drama
And loves to make a scene.
You must know who she is:
Marjorie Taylor Greene.

-by Bob B (4-7-22)

Have you heard of the Angel of Augsburg?
Agnes Bernauer was her name.
Her fairy tale start had a tragic ending.
What happened to her was a horrible shame.

She lived in the early 1400s
And worked as a servant in Augsburg, where she
Met Duke Albrecht von Würtemberg
Who promised to make her his wife-to-be.

Agnes was said to have been a beauty,
With fine noble features and long golden hair.
Even her enemies praised her appearance.
Those who beheld her would all stop and stare.

Duke Ernest, who was the young duke's father,
Unfortunately, could not get behind
The thought that Albrecht would marry Agnes.
He had another young lady in mind.

Father and son both quarreled, and Albrecht
Took a major step in his life.
Defying his father's unfair demands,
He made the lovely Agnes his wife.

They moved to Straubing and lived in a castle.
Albrecht surrounded her with a court.
However, their happily-ever-after
Life--you can guess--would soon be cut short.

Duchess Agnes had known all along
That Ernest's wrath was something to fear.
He was a tiger observing its prey,
Awaiting the time to pounce to draw near.

When Albrecht was away on business,
Ernest made happen plan part one:
He had Agnes imprisoned for being
A witch who had enchanted his son.

How ruthless people can be at times!
But what was there for Agnes to do?
Nothing but wait to be tried and sentenced
As Ernest carried out plan part two.

The verdict: guilty. The sentence: drowning.
Such a cruel and heartless rebuke!
Agnes was going to be drowned in the river
In Straubing. The papers were signed by the duke.

Thrown from a bridge and into a river,
Agnes was able to drift ashore.
The hangman then held her head underwater
Until the poor woman could breathe no more.

History has demonstrated--
And if we ignored it, we'd be remiss--
How power, religion, corruption, and money
Play a strong part in cases like this.

The body of Agnes, the Angel of Augsburg,
Lies there in Straubing, where she'd lived and died.
Only a person whose heart has been hardened
Could hear how she suffered and still stay dry-eyed.

-by Bob B (3-12-24)

Nominee Gina Haspel
To head the CIA? No way!
How can senators ignore
The ugly truths on her resumé.

Having run a black site in Thailand
Where prisoners were tortured, she
Then erased the evidence
In hopes to clear the agency.

And now our leaders want to promote her?
****! Please excuse the profanity,
But one would think it more apropos
To try her for crimes against humanity?

"Enhanced interrogation techniques"--
What a sickening euphemism
Used to justify the use
Of torture to fight terrorism.

According to Trump, waterboarding
Is an acceptable practice; what's more,
He would push it further and do
What conscientious people deplore.

Apparently, justifications
For cruelty are easy to spin
When democratic values are being
Attacked from both without and within.

-by Bob B (5-14-18)

This is January 6.
Just two years ago today
Mobs of insurrectionists
Made an ugly, brutal display:

They stormed the U.S. Capitol
All because of a president's lie--
An EX-president now, that is,
Who hasn't stopped his attempts to deny

Election results from 2020.
Oh, and his supporters still
Travel south to kiss his ring,
Sing his praises, and bend to his will.

He doesn't care whose life he threatens
When making scathing, untruthful remarks.
He doesn't care what kind of damage
One of his dangerous comments sparks.

So how far have we come since then--
Since the day of the insurrection?
There has been an investigation,
And there has been a midterm election.

Still too many election deniers
Have seats in Congress and fan the flames
Of discontent, by pushing falsehoods
And making truly obnoxious claims.

The main culprit lives in his mansion,
Entertaining extremists and kooks
And thinking that he is above the law.
His foes still get his constant rebukes.

People have come forth to speak.
Folks have been convicted of crimes.
Democracy, when under attack,
Must strive to survive such scary times.

Praise to those who have spoken out,
Undaunted by threats, unafraid.
When ALL have been held accountable,
Then REAL progress will have been made.

-by Bob B (1-6-23)

We--YOU and I--both know
That rain will make the flowers grow.
It also makes your windows blur;
MARISOL and I concur.

SHE and I have never seen
A dog whose fur was emerald green.
But if you see one here or there,
Please make HER and ME aware.

When SHE and WILLIAM went to swim,
The lifeguard rescued HER and HIM.
“Please don’t tell a soul!” said he.
"Keep it between YOU and ME."

William and I play soccer each day.
That’s the only sport we play.
Give both HIM and ME a break,
For winning’s not a piece of cake.

HE and I will sometimes win.
When not, we take it on the chin.
The other team is good, and thus,
It’s perfect for both THEM and US.

When THEY and WE play soccer games,
We don’t lose sight of our clear aims:
To do our best and have great fun.
But fun’s priority number one.

William, Marisol, and I,
Instead of aiming low, aim high.
Folks like THEM and ME profess
To always seek out happiness.

"You must dream big," we always say,
"And keep your doubts and fears at bay."
HE, SHE, and I will strive
To keep our goals and dreams alive.

But always, always be on guard.
For YOU and ME that can’t be hard.
If YOU and I both concentrate,
We can keep our pronouns straight.

-by Bob B (7-10-22)

(This poem could be sung to the melody of the song "Stand by Your Man" by Tammy Wynette and Billy Sherrill.)

It can be hard to be a country
When a bully lives next door to you.
He will cause strife
And try to make life
A nightmare. Know what you must do.

You'll have to count on other nations
For supplies to help defend your land.
Don't you grow weary
When things look dreary.
Someday you'll get the upper hand.

Stand with Ukraine.
Don't let the world forsake it
When Putin tries to break it.
Give it the help that it needs.

Stand with Ukraine.
Show it how much you love it.
Don't let its struggles be in vain.
Stand with Ukraine.

Stand with Ukraine.
Show it how much you love it.
Don't let its struggles be in vain.
Stand with Ukraine

-by Bob B (5-23-23)

Marian Anderson was called
The "Voice of the Century" back in her time.
But her rise to fame and approval
Certainly wasn't an easy climb.

She knew when she was six years old
And sang in a choir at church that she
Planned to devote her life to music.
A well-trained singer was what she'd be.

The Philadelphia Musical
Academy was her glorious dream.
But she was told that "colored people"
Weren't allowed--a recurring theme.

And so she found a voice teacher
And tried to perform wherever she could.
Dance halls were a popular venue
Throughout the Harlem neighborhood.

When her New York Town Hall debut
Bombed as critics picked her apart,
In 1927 she sailed
To Europe, where she could polish her art.

Her time in Sweden, Germany,
Paris and London was time well spent.
Having developed her artistry,
Anderson triumphed wherever she went.

Germany in the 1930s…
******'s power grab gave her pause.
Anderson was dismayed to hear him
Praise America's Jim Crow laws.

Back to America she sailed,
Where she would be celebrated.
To packed houses she sang, although
Most of the venues were segregated.

At one moving performance Anderson
Entered the stage and faced the crowd.
Then she turned to the black section
With deep humility and bowed.

In 1939 the plan:
A concert at Constitution Hall.
However, the DAR° refused
To let her perform. Another wall.

She gave a concert instead on the steps
Of the Lincoln Memorial to powerful raves.
A giant crowd attended. Her voice
Was also transmitted on radio waves.

In 1950 Anderson married
Orpheus Fisher. Unusual name.
Way back when she was starting out,
Orpheus had been her old flame.

In 1955 the Met°°
Broke the color bar. That year
Anderson sang in an opera--
For some the capstone of her career.

In '63 once again
Marian Anderson broadened her scope
And sang at the March on Washington.
She refused to give up hope.

She died at the age of ninety-six.
For many years the world was blessed
With having this diva, who knew first-hand
What it was like to be oppressed.

Her rich, expressive, contralto voice
Had a vibrant, velvety sound.
She sang with beauty and poise and grace.
No wonder she was so renowned!

Listen to her sing "Deep River."
Note her phrasing, her voice control.
How can you hear her and not feel her voice
Penetrate your very soul?

-by Bob B (2-22-21)

°Daughters of the American Revolution
°°The New York Metropolitan Opera

Think back to a year ago
When we had the chance
To slow a deadly virus down,
But some folks looked askance.
The issue grew political
And then we saw instead
That due to lack of leadership
The virus spread and spread.

I received my vaccination.
Now I feel relief.
We have watched the COVID virus
Cause a lot of grief.
As we all get vaccinated
We will start to see
The benefits around the world
Of herd immunity.

As the virus spreads we notice
Variants arise.
But that is how they work, and so
It should be no surprise.
If we don't act quickly now
The variants might start
Resisting vaccines that we have.
But for now take heart.

I received my vaccination.
Now I feel relief.
We have watched the COVID virus
Cause a lot of grief.
As we all get vaccinated
We will start to see
The benefits around the world
Of herd immunity.

So get your vaccination.
Don't give up the fight.
Make the virus go away
By doing what is right.
A little side effect or two
And maybe a sore arm
Might well lie in store for you,
But no cause for alarm.

I received my vaccination.
Now I feel relief.
We have watched the COVID virus
Cause a lot of grief.
As we all get vaccinated
We will start to see
The benefits around the world
Of herd immunity.

-by Bob B (2-28-19)