We often hear about karma and think,
"My karma is all about me."
And it indeed is personal,
At least to a certain degree.

But when we think of all life forms
And how we interact,
Karma's a much, much grander thing--
Unfathomable, in fact.

Societies have karma, too.
Let THAT idea gel.
And all the nations on this earth
Have their karmas as well.

Because of causes and conditions
All of us are here,
Inhabiting a planet that
Resembles a giant sphere.

What we do affects other people
In ways we can't always know.
And we are currently reaping what
Was sown long ago.

But karma, instead of being a system
Of punishment or reward,
Is more just knowing that consequences
Should not be ignored.

We can't undo the past; we can't
Change it in any way.
What we CAN be mindful of
Is how we behave today.

Therefore, it's incumbent on us
To think everything through.
Mindfulness should always influence
All that we say and do.

The karmas of all living things are so
Intricately intertwined,
That trying to understand the connections
Boggles the human mind.

-by Bob B (4-26-24)

When dealing with a serious crisis,
We need a leader whose words inspire us,
Not one who tries to cover up facts
In dealing with the spread of a virus.

Coronavirus (COVID 19)
Around the globe is quickly spreading.
If we--the public--remain uninformed,
Into what dark abyss are we heading?

At first the president seemed less concerned
About our welfare--our protection--
And more concerned about how the matter
Affects his chances of reelection.

Downplaying the words of the experts,
He doesn't want the markets to panic.
If we aren't told the truth, however,
The consequences could be titanic.

Censoring the information
From health officials isn't wise.
We will be subjected to more
Of the Trump administration's lies.

For Mike Pence to lead the response
Doesn't make any sense at all.
When dealing with a health crisis
In Indiana, he dropped the ball.

Governmental agencies
Created to deal with crises as such,
Have been hollowed out by Trump,
Who has the reverse Midas touch.

The head of the HHS:° guess who.
A former lobbyist! Oh, yes.
And for big pharma. Watch him make
The crisis into a bigger mess.

Trump must be the protagonist
In every drama, someone has said.
While he blathers, how many people
Will die from having been misled?

A leader needs certain qualities
To fight all kinds of vicious attacks:
Honesty and competence--
Two important things ours lacks.

-by Bob B (2-28-20)

°Health and Human Services

Unfortunately, Republican
Extremists in Congress have won.
The recent clown show isn't over;
In fact, it's barely begun.

Mike Johnson was voted in
As Speaker! Please, no cheers.
He's the least experienced Speaker
In over one hundred years.

Johnson, we know, was instrumental
In building a strong connection
With those who tried to change the results
Of the 2020 election.

To help explain societal ills,
Here's his contribution:
Mass shootings are the result
Of teaching evolution!

***! If you think things
Are bad right now, just wait.
To him there should be no separation
Between church and state.

Embracing right-wing culture wars,
Johnson's ready to fight
To push his crazy, extremist agenda
Instead of doing what's right.

MAGA extremists have taken the country
Hostage. It's sad but true.
Come on, House Republicans!
Is that the best you can do?

-by Bob B (10-26-23)

As Trump gets more obnoxious, his
Approval ratings rise.
Why can't more Americans see
The danger in his lies?

The man's a total disaster; he's
A wheel missing some spokes.
At first he lied at his rallies, saying
COVID-19 was a hoax.

Now he wants to expunge those words
From all the records, of course.
He's doing it to save his hide; it's not
Because he feels remorse.

Misinforming the public's a ploy
He's done all along.
He would prefer to croak than ever
Admit that he was wrong.

As governors scramble to fight a virus,
Requests go unheeded.
States compete for medical
Supplies badly needed.

Many people's lives are at risk.
Health workers require
Protective gear, for they are directly
In the line of fire.

"America first" has long been Trump's
Pretended aspiration.
We ARE first: we have more cases
Than any other nation--

Cases of COVID-19, that is.
The numbers, too, are rising.
Due to our government's slow response,
That is not surprising.

Testing, testing, testing is key,
Experts keep repeating.
To act without adhering to facts
Is totally self-defeating.

Experts, speak out! Don't be afraid
Of Trump's tantrums and wrath.
Failure to give us the truth will lead us
Down a dangerous path.

-by Bob B (3-27-20)

One day a wealthy father
Decides that it is time to give
His privileged son a lesson on
How the poor actually live.

After spending a day and a night
On a poor, humble farm with his son,
The father asks on the drive home,
"How was your stay? Did you have fun?"

"Oh, yes indeed," says the son.
"They're very poor. Did you see?"
Asks the father. The son nods,
Having no reason to disagree.

The father continues: "Tell me what
You learned about being poor."
The son thinks and says, "We
Have only ONE dog; they have FOUR.

"In our garden, we have a fountain;
They have an endless stream that runs by.
Our garden has boring lamps;
They have all the stars in the sky.

"Our property stops at our fence.
To see beyond the garden is hard.
For them, on the other hand,
The entire horizon is their backyard."

The father doesn't know what to say.
Smiling from across the car,
The son says, "Thank you so much, Dad,
For showing me how poor we are."

- by Bob B (10-23-17)

°A popular tale retold here in verse

Outside a window hung a cage
In which a bird was confined.
A neighboring bat was wondering if
The bird had lost her mind.

During the day when other birds sang,
She wouldn't make a peep.
But every night she sang her heart out
While the rest were asleep.

One evening, the bat paid her a visit
To check out the situation,
Hoping that they'd be able to
Engage in conversation.

"Lovely bird," he said, "I feel
That something isn't right.
Why can't you sing during the day
Instead of only at night?"

"I used to sing the whole day through,
But when the fowler heard
My beautiful voice, he said to himself,
'I must catch that bird,'

She said. "And so he caught me with nets
And stuck me in this thing.
From that point on, during the daytime
I have refused to sing."

The bat replied, "My lovely friend,
Please do not be sore,
But that won't help you at all right now,
Although it might have before.

"Before you became a prisoner--
When you could perch in a tree--
If you had sung only at night,
Maybe you'd still be free."

Of course, the story has a moral:
Precautions are truly great,
But they are utterly useless when
They are applied too late.

-by Bob B (8-9-21)

°An Aesop fable retold here in verse

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (4-2-23)

We are on a slippery *****
When people push the envelope
When speaking English. Look below,
And you'll see what I mean to show.

"Who has ever seen an elf?"
"Luna, Richard, and myself."
Hearing that, I wonder why
"Myself" is used instead of "I."

When "myself" is used that way,
People, much to my dismay,
Forget that "I" will do the trick
And think the word "myself" sounds slick.

"I SEE myself" makes perfect sense.
And "I MYSELF can do it." Hence,
Here's a thought that should be stressed:
Use "myself" where it's used best.

"Please inform my office aide
OR myself." Well, I'm afraid
That when I see or hear that, it
Causes me to have a fit.

Please replace "myself" with "me."
"Myself" does not belong there. See?
ONLY I am able to
Inform MYSELF--not they, not you.

"Please inform…me" is what's meant.
Again, some folks circumvent
What's right with that which I suspect
They feel is perfectly correct.

"Tom and myself were asked to lead."
That sounds very odd indeed,
For doesn't "myself" sound awkward to you
When a simple "I" would do?

When speakers are a bit confused,
Words can sometimes be misused.
The following examples might
Provide a sense of what sounds right:

"Help yourselves to lunch," we hear.
And "Do not let yourself show fear."
"She bought herself a brand new fan."
"He himself designed the plan."

Reflexive pronouns they are called--
Intensive, too, and I'm enthralled
When English speakers are aware
Of using pronouns with great care.

-by Bob B (7-13-22)

Sam was known as the Buddha-cat,
Mainly because of the way that he sat.
His feline posture was fascinating:
He always appeared to be meditating.
Quiet and still, he'd sit there for hours
As though he possessed remarkable powers.
People would say that he gave the impression
Of being in the midst of a calm zazen session.
Never upset or angry or frightened,
He made all who knew him think he was enlightened.

"But tell us: why 'Sam'?" people would query
So often that both of Sam's owners grew weary.
"It's short for Samantabhadra," they'd say,
"Who's just like a Buddhist saint in a way."
"Yes," Sam would think, "That's who I am.
But, everyone, PLEASE, just call me 'Sam.'"
Then Sam would continue his deep meditation,
Sometimes counting each long exhalation.
And when he was finished, he'd patiently wait
To see if a treat might appear on his plate.

He'd stare through the window pane when it was raining.
To him it was one type of mindfulness training.
He never would chase after insects or mice,
And if one ran by, he wouldn't look twice.
He was content just to take life with ease.
One thing that he couldn't stand, though, was fleas!
But he wouldn't **** them, for his point of view
Was clearly: that's what his owners should do.
He knew that life had both good times and bad,
And since life was so, he didn't get mad.

Sam was not a strict vegetarian.
His rules for dining were more nonsectarian.
He'd chant when you gently would stroke his soft fur,
Though folks said it sounded more like a purr.
He was a true inspiration to many.
Did he have enemies? No, not any.
When visitors came, Sam wouldn't hide.
Of all cats, he was the most dignified.
Sam felt that egos were dangerous, so
Everyone has to learn how to let go.

As Sam grew older, he slept day and night,
And fur on his face began to turn white.
He ate much less food--not a whole plateful,
But he continued to always be grateful.
He still meditated, although bit by bit,
He felt it was better to lie than to sit.
One sad morning Sam's owners awoke
To find that old Sam had died of a stroke.
For Sam there would be no more mañana,
For he had entered parinirvana.

-by Bob B (2-21-24)

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

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

°Republican Representative from Colorado

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

°Republican Senator from Texas

-by Bob B (10-11-21)

It’s hard to know how the country
Survived having to spend
A four-year term with 45.
I thought it would never end.

Four long years of scandals;
Fours years of anguish and grief;
Four long years of fatuous tweets,
With little if any relief.

Four long years of a slogan
To make America great.
And yet the president seemed much more
Preoccupied with hate.

Four long years of hearing
Constant words of praise
For Vladimir Putin and other strongmen
And their autocratic ways.

Four long years of watching
His sycophants kiss his rear
And be afraid to tell him what
He didn’t want to hear.

Four long years of lies.
The number hasn’t been topped.
And though he is out of the White House now,
His lying hasn’t stopped.

Four long years of observing
Extremists in his base
Become so extremely emboldened that
An insurrection took place.

Four long years of feeling
As though we were swimming with sharks,
For he loved tearing people apart
With his nasty remarks.

For four long years we heard
Constant “alternative facts,”
For one of his guiding principles is
Anything that distracts.

Four long years of our lives--
Unrecoverable time.
If voters decide to give him four more,
THAT will be a crime.

-by Bob B (8-3-21)

Looking around, I watch with growing
Horror, sadness, and utter dismay
As many states start looking more
Like **** Germany every day.

Laws to penalize doctors for trying
To help others are spreading fear
And horrible insecurities
Among the health professionals here.

Laws pitting people against
One another are being made.
Groups are being targeted
As scapegoats in what is a vicious crusade.

Library books are being banned
Because of people's misguided views.
Laws are being made to prevent
People from having the right to choose.

We also have our "brown shirts"--
Mobs of thugs who terrorize
Others whom--for bigoted reasons--
The cruel, extremist thugs despise.

SOME states want to give their doctors
The right to refuse treatment to those
Whose ****** orientation those very
Doctors for asinine reasons oppose.

Autocrats in other countries
By many people are honored and praised,
And when the autocrats stomp on rights,
The autocrat-lovers aren't even fazed.

States are changing history with
Revisionist texts that alter the truth,
Using a silly, outlandish excuse
That doing so protects our youth.

ALL we need now is an autocrat
Wannabe like Trump in power,
And what we know as democracy
Will sadly see its final hour.

-by Bob B (6-16-23)

When growing up, I never had
The feeling that I was a finicky *****,
And even though it wasn't a custom
For us to parade around in the ****,

My easygoing Midwestern parents
Never felt that it would befoul
Our minds if after bathing they
Returned to their bedroom wrapped in a towel.

I learned, however, that some people were
In many respects less modest than others.
For instance, my friend's mother's behavior
Was very different from my mother's.

We'd be playing--my friend and I--
When all of a sudden his mom would prance
Into his room not wearing a thing,
Almost as though she was doing a dance.

It was…different, but not for me
A reason for laughing, fleeing, or fainting.
I was used to seeing scores
Of nudes in many a Renaissance painting.

Unfazed, my friend and I continued
To do whatever we were playing
As though we had merely witnessed his mom
Vacuuming, baking pies, or crocheting.

We humans are the only mammals
That stifle our belches, excuse our farts,
And feel that it's very necessary
To cover up our private parts--

Unless you are a nudist, of course.
That, we know, is a different matter.
So, birthday suit or covered body?
I think I will stick with the latter.

I have been to **** beaches
Both in the States and overseas.
Instead of feeling liberated,
I felt a little bit ill at ease.

I do not find ******
Offensive at all, so please take note:
If that's your thing, then be my guest
And do whatever floats your boat.

If "clothes make the man," as the saying goes,
****** levels the playing field.
But I feel more relaxed if certain
Body parts remain concealed.

-by Bob B (5-20-24)

Wow, Mr. Robinson!°
Talk about an aberration!
You are very near to reaching
The lowest point of depravation.

You want to be the governor
Of North Carolina, you say.
But you do not appear to be
Going about it in a good way.

You said that reinstating human
Enslavement wouldn't be so bad
And that you'd "certainly buy a few"
Slaves if you could. What a cad!

And Dr. Martin Luther King
Was an f-word ****** b-word?
Well, Mr. Robinson,
You sound like a real p-word!

You prefer ****** to
Barack Obama? It seems you lack
An understanding of history.
Have you forgotten that you are black?

And yet you went and called yourself
A "black ****," which clearly means
You couldn't care less if you should blow
Your reputation to smithereens.

You attack transgender rights,
And when you said "some folks need killing,"
What folks were you talking about?
Your words at times are truly chilling.

You cannot help casting slurs
On Blacks and gays and Muslims and Jews.
How could anybody vote
For someone with such crazy views?

In choosing such a candidate
For governor, Mr. R,
It shows that state Republicans
Have definitely lowered the bar.

-by Bob B (9-21-24)

°Mark Robinson, Lt. Governor of NC and running for governor of the state

Herman is known as a fussbudget cat.
When you observe him, right off the bat
You cannot help but notice that
He's ALWAYS sulky and cross.
He doesn't like to be nagged or disturbed.
His grouchy behavior cannot be curbed.
He is the kind who is always perturbed
If HE can't be the boss.

He likes being pampered if you obey
His orders, which means he MUST have his way.
He wants what he wants and expects no delay.
You've got to follow his rules.
He thinks that you are wrong and misguided
Unless your attention remains undivided.
People must do what he has decided;
They merely serve as his tools.

Sometimes you'll find him on top of a heap
Of clothes from the dryer, trying to sleep,
And lying there without making a peep.
If so, leave him alone.
For if you move him, boy will he howl,
Chatter and scold you and let out a yowl,
And let the world know that something's afoul,
With rage and fury full-blown.

If he's asleep on your favorite chair,
You MIGHT try to move him (though I wouldn't dare),
For if you do, you'd better beware.
He's not going to be happy.
His response will be very clear,
Far from subtle, and rather severe--
The very last thing that you'd want to hear.
And don't ask why he's so snappy.

At dinnertime, finding a meal
For Herman becomes a daily ordeal.
It can't be beef or tuna or eel,
Too wet, too soft or too hard.
It can't be greasy, slimy, too cold,
It can't be too fresh, nor can it be old,
And heaven forbid if the flavor's too bold.
Oh, and he also hates lard.

His cat box needs a daily cleaning.
Not to do so is very demeaning,
For Herman depends on careful preening
And asks, What about you?
Would you want to continue to go
In a toilet without flushing it? NO!
You can thus see why he's fussy, and so
You know the right thing to do.

Despite the bothered look on his face,
He wants to assist the human race
By letting us know that just in case
He can be of service.
Herman can catch a mouse in a flash,
Keep other critters away from the trash,
And scare away bugs when you open the sash,
Though rats can make him nervous.

If Herman's so owly, you might wonder why
People still love the obstreperous guy.
Well, there are times when he'll honestly try
To be a likable fellow.
He'll calmly lie on your lap and contently
Purr when you pet him ever so gently
And kiss your hand, which consequently
Proves he can sometimes be mellow.

-by Bob B (2-19-20)

Sometimes it is undeniably
Hard to comprehend
How people can support a loser
To the bitter end.

For example: a twice-impeached
One-term president who
After four chaotic years
Has nothing better to do

Than demonstrate his nastiness
And fervently embrace
Anyone who bows to him
As he lies to his base.

His toadies let themselves be guided
Like marionettes on a string,
And many flock to Mar-a-Lago
To kiss their cult leader's ring.

The man--crazed, deluded--seems
Totally unaware
That the more he talks, the more
We know he's not all there.

He still thinks he's president--
That he'll be reinstated--
And that President Biden's term
Will be terminated!

He thinks that the clown-show audits
Will have the proof he'll use
To try to convince the country that
He didn't really lose.

One would think Republicans would be
Tying themselves in knots
Over what he's doing. But no,
They let him call the shots.

One could laugh if it weren't so
Sick, disgusting and sad.
But what's going on is serious.
Folks, we've been had!

It seems we're watching democracy go
Into a tailspin.
It won't be destroyed from without
But instead from within.

-by Bob B (7-16-21)

What? Another indictment in Trumpworld?
How could anyone be surprised?
In Trump's realm, crime and corruption
Have become quite normalized.

This time it is Thomas Barrack.
Of course, he's made a not-guilty plea,
Denying the charges of acting as
An agent for the UAE.°

Barrack is now the eleventh Trump
Associate, who since twenty fifteen
Has been charged with federal crimes.
This time Trump can't intervene

And dangle a pardon in front of him--
Something he's been known to do.
He has other challenges now
Since he couldn't pull off his coup.

Every day the world discovers
More of what Trump's all about.
And why people STILL support him
Is difficult to figure out.

Journalist Michelle Goldberg
Describes the astonishing situation
That we are experiencing
Currently as “scandal inflation.”

Scandal after scandal has made
The weary public become inured
To further scandals. The lines between
Right and wrong are now obscured.

Integrity or deceitful corruption--
Some people prefer the latter.
And many turn their heads and pretend
That certain crimes just do not matter.

All the more reason the U.S. needs
Leaders who put their country before
Their greed and own self-interests.
Grift and corruption, nevermore!

-by Bob B (7-24-21)

°United Arab Emirates

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

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

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

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

THEY'RE FOOLS!

-by Bob B (10-18-21)

This is the tale of a woman--
One who thought she knew best.
Social media allowed her
To get a few things off her chest.

COVID-19, she claimed,
Was merely a media hoax
Created by “radical people”
To hoodwink all of us folks.

She called it "socialistic.”
Moreover, she said it had
The trappings of an effort
To make her dear leader look bad.

We DON'T need hand sanitizer
Or rolls of TP by the tons.
What we need, she insisted,
Are "faith” and "fight” and "guns."

At the time she expressed her feelings,
What was unforeseen,
Was that a couple weeks later,
She'd die from COVID-19.

Had she but listened to experts
Instead of to nitwits and fools,
Maybe she'd be here today.
She should have been following rules.

Not to disparage her faith,
But somehow it didn't prevent
The woman from catching the virus
To such a deadly extent.

Would SHE have abandoned her faith
And her weapons? Probably neither.
But one thing we know for certain:
Her guns didn't help her, either.

The lesson we learn from her story
Is one that is NOT hard to miss:
Fools are not to be trusted,
For ignorance isn't bliss.

-by Bob B (4-7-20)

I like a tasty gin and tonic,
Margarita, or daiquiri.
Whiskey, bourbon, scotch, or *****
Really don't do much for me.

But wine--ah!--a good glass of wine
Sits at the top of my preference list,
And when I'm in a social mood,
A glass of wine is hard to resist.

The words "social mood" are key,
For when I drink wine, I say with no shame
That if it isn't shared with somebody
Else, it doesn’t taste the same.

Yes, the shared experience
Is what gives wine its special flavor.
Every glass is a new adventure,
And every sip is something to savor.

Whether it's creamy, flamboyant, bold,
Fruity, bright, complex or not,
Fleshy, oaky, toasty, velvety,
Crisp, or buttery, wine hits the spot.

So any time you have a bottle
To share on any day of the week,
Bring it over. I've got the glasses.
Oh-la-la! C'est magnifique!

-by Bob B (1-16-22)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (9-14-21)

Nondescript, muffled sounds
Can penetrate cement and wood
And dirt, but silence dominates
This dank and dreary neighborhood.

Days are long and nights are frigid
Here where I’ve been laid to rest.
I slumber with my Purple Heart
And other medals across my chest.

How fickle life is! Good intentions
And dreams often come to naught.
Too late we learn the consequences
Of trusting all that we were taught.

Alas, the mighty powers that were
Had in mind a contrary plan.
They sent me off to fight their war
In the mountains of Afghanistan.

“When Johnny Comes Marching Home”: my buddies
And I would sometimes sing that song.
But fate presented a different plan
For my return all along.

I "marched" home, although my marching
Was somewhat a paradox:
I came home covered with medals
And lying in a flag-wrapped box.

Medals! Let the generals keep them.  
If I had a choice, I’d rather be
At home playing with my kids
And caring for my family.

-by Bob B (7-23-18)

This is the tale of a woman;
Ashli Babbitt's her name.
She lost her life by becoming
Involved in a dangerous game.

She'd spent some time in the Air Force--
Fourteen dutiful years.
Later she worked with her family.
Then something snapped, it appears.

Her social media postings
Showed her recent romance
With crazy conspiracy theories
And an anti-immigrant stance.

Trump's deceitful distortions
Were something to which she held fast.
Her trip to the Capitol Building
Would end up being her last.

So say good-bye to Ashli.
What a sad reason to die!--
All for having supported
A president's giant lie.

When she arrived at the building,
She probably thought, "What the heck?"
And broke in with the mob
With a Trump flag 'round her neck.

A plan to take back the country
Was how the event was billed.
Instead it was a coup,
And Ashli was shot and killed.

Some people call her a martyr;
Some people call her a saint.
But most people here will tell you
That those are two things she ain't.

When we bow down to tyrants
Who break the existing rules,
We demonstrate the danger
Of fools being led by fools.

So say good-bye to Ashli.
What a sad reason to die!--
All for having supported
A president's giant lie…
All for having supported
A president's giant lie.

-by Bob B (2-12-21)

The vigor is gone from the Stars and Stripes.
What's happening is truly degrading.
The purity of the WHITE is sullied;
The RED and BLUE are slowly fading.

The sullying of the color WHITE,
Which stands for innocence, reveals
That we are slipping--that we are not
Holding true to our ideals.

Are we innocent if we
Ignore the years of hard-fought fights
For justice and equality
As we dismantle voting rights?

If RED means hardiness and courage
And the readiness to sacrifice,
What we're seeing happening now
Makes that meaning imprecise.

Too many people refuse to make
A sacrifice and throw a fit
When asked to do so to help protect
The lives of others, if even a bit.

If BLUE stands for vigilance,
Perseverance, and justice for all,
Then our approach to those areas
Needs a major overhaul.

Perseverance for many means
Believing conspiracy theories that make
Others wonder how truth can be
Such an easy thing to forsake.

Vigilance is also lacking
In many people who fail to see
That huge threats of attacks from our own
People are not hyperbole.

And BLUE for justice for all? Sadly,
That is something we can't declare yet.
Discrimination, selfishness,
And bigotry prove that we're not there yet.

By doing what's right, we must inject
More color into the current Old Glory.
If not, what we'll see will be
A sad end to America's story.

-by Bob B (8-5-21)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (9-4-21)

°An Aesop fable retold here in verse

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "America the Beautiful.")

America--red, white, and blue--
Please keep your hopeful dreams,
And don't let folks diminish you
With all their shameful schemes.
Protect yourself, America,
From all who'll do you harm.
We hope to see democracy
Remain our good luck charm.

When you hear sounds of people's lies…
When folks conspire and plot
And tamper with your character
To make you what you're not,
Protect yourself, America!
We watch with hope and awe
As you shall strive to keep alive
Our vital rule of law.

How sad it is when folks conspire
To damage and defraud
And place within their line of fire
This country that we laud.
Protect yourself, America!
Don't fret and don't give in!
In times like these stay strong and please
Don't let conspirers win.

Democracy is fragile, so
When times are getting hard,
We trust that we'll survive, although,
We must be on our guard.
Protect yourself, America!
Our values must stay strong.
When people say we've seen our day,
We have to prove them wrong.

-by Bob B (8-2-23)

What a crazy world we live in!
It gets crazier day by day.
Imagine killing your kids because
They had serpent DNA!

Yep! A California man,
Killed his children--one by one--
Down in Baja California
With his trusty spear fishing gun.

His infant son and toddler daughter
Didn't even stand a chance
With a paranoid father who was
Caught up in a QAnon trance.

Matthew Coleman feared that his kids
Had inherited from his wife
Serpent DNA--for him,
A good reason for taking a life.

The 40-year-old from Santa Barbara
Thought his kids would grow up to be
Monsters in his perverse and bizarre
Alternate reality.

The bodies of the children were found
Near Rosarito Beach. So sad.
It was the only course of action
To save the world, said the dad.

There are people out there for whom
Conspiracy theories have great appeal.
The fact that so many people believe
The utter nonsense is surreal.

Beliefs can be constructive unless
They help to bolster inhumanity.
The more that QAnon spreads its lies,
The more we're seeing lapses in sanity.

-by Bob B (8-12-21)

If Trump was uncontrollable,
Which made you unconsolable,
Just watch him now.
If it's hard to understand
How lying can get out of hand,
Just watch him now.
If his supporters in Congress don't muster
The courage to tell him that he's nothing but bluster,
And instead they bow to him,
Grovel and kowtow to him,
THEN YOU JUST WATCH HIM NOW.

If his nominations
Never met your expectations,
Just watch him now.
If you thought his judges
Would help support his grudges,
Just watch him now.
If you found his polices unfair and perverse,
Thought the situation here could never get worse,
And simply found the man unfit
And basically a hypocrite,
THEN YOU JUST WATCH HIM NOW.

He loves to stir up
A hullabaloo.
Just imagine how much
More damage he'll do.

If you thought his major pitch
Went to help the filthy rich,
Just watch him now.
If you thought he wouldn't dare
To tamper with our Medicare,
Just watch him now.
If he thought himself above the law, then
He is going to break the law again and again.
So, Senators, you who cower,
As Trump takes away your power,
YOU JUST WATCH HIM NOW.

-by Bob B (2-5-20)

Russian parents, do you know
Where your children are today?
Might they be on Ukrainian soil,
Many many miles away?

Might your kids be soldiers on
A Russian military squad,
Set out to **** Ukrainians
And bolster Putin's outrageous façade?

Might they be attacking civilians
And leaving their bodies strewn about,
While causing other atrocities
That we keep seeing day in, day out?

Perhaps they have been caught between
Following orders they know aren't right
Made by a dictatorial leader
Whose human compassion has taken flight

And knowing the truth and wondering
If that's who they were meant to be--
Conscripts used to fight a war
With nightmarish brutality.

When you watch your Putin-controlled
TV news, are you aware
That you are being lied to, and if
You do know that, do you care?

Can you feel the repercussions
Brought about by Putin's war?
Give it some thought. Do you have
Any inkling of what's in store?

If committing atrocities
Is the appropriate thing to do,
And if you're proud of your kids for doing that,
Shame on them and shame on you.

-by Bob B (4-4-22)

-Confusion-
Whether or not you seek glory,
Whenever you're writing a story,
You'll know on the double
That you're in big trouble
If you confuse "hoary"° with "whorey."

°definition: old and trite

-Grammar-
It's really quite shocking to me
When speakers of English can't see
What they convey
Whenever they
Use "him" when they ought to use "he."

-Subjunctive-
They say the subjunctive° is dying.
If I said, "Who cares?" I'd be lying.
If I were you,
I'd do what I do:
Perfect it! At least I'd keep trying.

°The subjunctive mood expresses wishes, suggestions, demands, or desires.

-Past Participle-
To another thing I must ask "Why?"
To the past participle, say "Bye!"
Why don't folks give a ****
When they say "We have swam,"
"He has ran," "I have drank"? My, oh, my!

-Past Perfect-
The past perfect tense I can tell
Can cause people problems as well.
Some folks abuse it;
Some just don't use it.
Use "had" with the past par…. Ah, hell!

-by Bob B (5-28-24)

(Governor Greg Abbott of Texas)

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

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

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

(Senator Ted Cruz "Antoinette" of Texas)

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

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

(Larry Elder, candidate for governor of CA)

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

…

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

-by Bob B (9-8-21)

Watch Donald Trump. Watch what he does.
Beware of what might ensue
If he's in the Oval Office again
And does what dictators do.

Viktor Orbán° came to his home--
A strong man through and through
Who has rejected democracy,
For that's what dictators do.

Orbán and Putin are mentors to Trump.
He loves their world view.
He doesn't care how they step on rights,
For that's what dictators do.

He swears that he'll go after opponents
If he is elected anew.
Trump wants loyalists only because
That's what dictators do.

His anti-migrant rhetoric
Has a frightening hue
As he dehumanizes others.
That's what dictators do.

Repeat a lie often enough
And people will think it's true.
Trump is a master at bending the truth.
That's what dictators do.

Figuratively, his nose has grown
At least a foot or two
From all the lies he's told so far.
That's what dictators do.

Republicans who don't obey him
Or line up in his queue
Are censured, for Trump has called them out.
That's what dictators do.

The former president now has
Indictments up the *****.
Our system of justice he says is unfair.
That's what dictators do.

Criticizing others is fine.
To Trump that's not taboo.
But criticize him and he'll get even.
That's what dictators do.

He starts with others, and then just watch:
He'll COME after me and you.
It's incumbent on all of us
To STOP what dictators do.

-by Bob B (3-11-24)

°The prime minister (and current autocrat) of Hungary

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)

I ran into Tom Turkey this morning
As he was leaving a bar.
"Starting early?" I asked as I
Stopped and got out of my car.

"Yes," he said, "I'm drowning my sorrows--
More than just a tad.
Many have lost their loved ones lately.
That's why I'm so sad.

"After the recent mass shootings,
How are people able
To sit down and be thankful this year
At their Thanksgiving table?

"Some are going to mourn as they
Sit next to empty chairs
And ask one another plaintively
If anybody cares."

"I know what you mean," I said, "for I
Wonder the very same thing.
Deaths by shootings in this country
Seem to be in full swing."

"I guess," Tom mused, "that people will be
Thankful for what they've got.
Moreover, they will probably be
Thankful that they weren't shot."

"Maybe, " I said, "people could be
Thankful that we have the means
To stop all these atrocities
And end these horrible scenes.

"But that won't happen unless we act.
Certainly that is key.
People who care about this country
Probably will agree.

"And then you've got Putin's war
Devastating Ukraine!"
"Don't get me started on THAT!" he cried,
"You're piling pain upon pain!"

"Gotta go now," he said, as he walked
Away with a wobbly gait,
And added, "I'm thankful that I did NOT
End up on a Thanksgiving plate."

-by Bob B (11-24-22)

The call came in on a frigid morning—
An SOS from Santa’s elves.
“Help!” they cried. “We can’t find Santa,”
And they were all beside themselves.

“We’ve searched in every nook and cranny--
In every toy shop all around--
But we can’t find a trace of him.
He is nowhere to be found.”

Joining the search, I scoured the cities,
And hunted for him in snow and rain.
Then I heard there were reindeer tracks
In a bombed-out village in eastern Ukraine.

I entered a hospital hit by bombs,
Where innocent people were injured and dying.
Santa sat on the floor in a corner,
Holding a child in his arms and crying.

“I have had it with human beings,"
He said, wiping away his tears.
"I have tried to bring happiness
To people on Earth for hundreds of years.

"But look what's happening all around us.
I try to spread good will and peace,
But vile and vicious humans will not
Let war-caused pain and suffering cease.

"And please don't feed me the line about
Pain and suffering making us stronger.
To see children suffer like this…
Well, I can't take it any longer."

"I understand how you feel," I said.
"I am just as discouraged as you.
The thirst for power is so destructive!
I'm at a loss as to what to do.

"Finding more ways to nurture compassion
In human beings is what we need.
That is one of the only ways
To conquer ignorance, anger, and greed.

"All you can do is to keep on attempting
To open folks' eyes, to give them hope
That kindness will win eventually.
That is the only way we can cope."

Taking the child from Santa's arms,
A doctor said, "She'll live. Don’t worry.
But I can see that your reindeer are getting
Antsy, so you had better hurry."

Santa kissed the child on the forehead
And walked to his sleigh on that wintry night.
He turned to me and held up his hand,
And crossing his fingers, he drove out of sight.

-by Bob B (12-20-22)

Strongmen and their death squads.
In many countries, both exist.
The squads inflict terror while
The strongmen rule with an iron fist.

The people have to watch what they say,
Watch what they do, and live in fear.
Often they will end up in a morgue;
Sometimes they'll merely disappear.

Indirectly, Donald Trump
Appears to have his death squads, too--
Far-right extremists who
Are a rather deplorable crew.

All that Trump must do is find
Someone out there to criticize--
Opponents, prosecutors, judges,
Their families--with vicious lies,

And suddenly, they will have
Giant targets on their backs.
They live in constant fear for their lives
Merely because of Trump's attacks.

Many Republicans also fear
Opposing Trump and therefore feel
Coerced into supporting him.
The chances of being a target are real.

Whether or not Trump likes it, his thugs
Are there to terrorize us. Alas!
Imagine the nightmare if for Trump
A win in November should come to pass!

-by Bob B (3-30-24)

Breathtaking coastlines, towering pines,
Hills and valleys with grapes on vines
From which we produce our exquisite wines…
Glorious California!

Majestic forests, volcanic peaks,
Beachside towns with their quaint boutiques,
Silicon Valley and its techno-geeks…
Glorious California!

Golden hills with their sprawling oaks,
Expansive fields of artichokes…
There's magic that your name invokes.
Glorious California!

Miles and miles of fine desert sand,
Sometimes a language we don't understand,
But that helps to make this state so grand…
Glorious California!

Poppy-lined roads, gardens and flowers,
Varied landscapes as you drive for hours,
Yosemite's grandeur after spring showers…
Glorious California!

I have been elsewhere
And seen wondrous places--
Mountainous regions
And vast open spaces.
But when I'm away,
I find that I yearn
For home and can't wait
Until I return.

Though crowded at times and in traffic we wait,
No place is perfect; still you're first-rate.
So much beauty in this golden state!
Glorious California!

Some say your taxes are far too high,
Affordable housing's in short supply,
But I plan to stay here until I die.
Glorious California!

-by Bob B (11-29-21)

As chief diplomat,
By the way-o,
You're NOTHING but a rat,
Mike Pompeo.

So Trump has become
Your protégé-o.
Sounds like zero-sum,
Mike Pompeo.

Supporters you may please
Every day-o
By acting like a ******,
Mike Pompeo.

But most of us see fully--
Let us say-o--
The workings of a bully,
Mike Pompeo.

Kelly° asked about
The game you play-o,
And all you did was shout,
Mike Pompeo.

Calling her a liar,
Not okay-o,
When YOUR pants are on fire,
Mike Pompeo.

Your reputation's in
Disarray-o--
One more thing to spin,
Mike Pompeo.

What are you trying
To convey-o
With your constant lying,
Mike Pompeo?

You and Trump should know--
Come what may-o--
You'll reap what you sow,
Mike Pompeo.

-by Bob B (1-30-20)

°Mary Louise Kelly, NPR reporter

What a curse: hypocrisy!
Oh, when all is said and done,
Our president doesn’t serve the people;
He looks instead after number one.

The hypocrite says he wants a clean
Environment, and yet he'll dare
To serve the many companies that
Pollute the water and poison the air.

The current admin would rather give
More benefits to the heads
Of big pharma instead of helping
People desperate for the meds.

The right to vote is precious, but still
He helps those who have an obsession
Not with serving American voters
But serving instead voter suppression.

Catering to religious groups,
He wants to see his ratings spike,
And yet his uncouth words and lies
Are not very Christianlike.

When he doesn't get his way,
He seeks immediate retribution,
Not by obeying the law but by
Tromping on the Constitution.

When he campaigned, he complained
About Hillary's emails, and yet
The man himself remains a giant
National security threat.

Is the president motivated
Mainly by power or greed, or both?
When he was sworn into office, did
He take the Hypocritic Oath?

-by Bob B (1-10-20)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (3-20-23)

As of now, six of Trump's
Associates are paying for crimes
That they committed during these
Unprecedented times.

The crimes concern tax evasion,
Telling lies to the FBI,
Bank fraud, witness tampering
(Anything to protect their guy!),

Campaign finance violations,
Conspiracy against the U.S.,
Obstruction of Congress, lying to Congress…
All a part of the president's mess.

Let's see: Papadopoulos,
Manafort, Cohen, Gates, and Flynn,
And now Roger Stone--all
Tried to save the president's skin.

Do they ever ask themselves
How much they have benefited
From having worked for Donald Trump?
What misdeeds has HE committed?

Will Giuliani be the next?
How many more have hopped on board?
Will more break the law to protect
Their mob boss, their crime lord?

There's an important message here
When we see such crimes as these:
Lie down with flea-ridden dogs,
And surely you'll wake up with fleas.

-by Bob B (11-16-19)

Trump keeps talking and talking and talking,
Hoping his statements will serve as a tool--
A self-fulfilling prophecy--
To tamper with the jury pool.

He's also trying to stir up his base.
He thinks he'll get away with whatever
He says to discredit our courts, our system.
Let's hope he's being more foolish than clever.

His campaign trail is going to be crazy
With detours to visit court after court.
One would think he would be more careful,
But keeping quiet is not his forte.

Trump can bully, berate, and disparage
Others, yet when he is criticized,
He plays the poor, innocent victim
Who doesn't deserve to be so despised.

The judge has got to put a stop
To all his nonsense. What will it take?
A sock? A muzzle? Some time in jail?
How to subdue a venomous snake….

He will NOT stop talking, he says.
You'd think he'd be on a slippery *****.
Will it all come back to bite him?
Let's cross our fingers and hang on to hope.

-by Bob B (8-9-23)

A farmer went to the market one day
To buy another *** for his farm.
He had a few in his stable already,
But adding one more would do no harm.

He came across a nice-looking beast,
In wonderful shape. No denial.
But in order for him to be sure,
He asked if he could take it on trial.

"I want to know what he's like," he said.
"And see how my other animals find him."
The owner agreed, and the farmer left.
The *** plodded along behind him.

"I hope he's like my better workers;
The other ones are as slow as molasses,"
The farmer mumbled. Back at the farm,
He put the *** with the other *****.

After surveying the new surroundings,
The new *** felt that he was able
To choose wisely, and so he befriended
The laziest, greediest *** in the stable.

After observing the ***'s behavior,
Immediately--that same afternoon--
The farmer returned the beast to the owner,
Who was surprised to see him so soon.

"Back already?" the owner said.
"I guess he didn't pass your test.
How did you decide so quickly?
Didn't he get along with the rest?"

“It didn’t take me long to see
His true nature,” the farmer replied.
"He sidled up to the laziest ***
In the stable as soon as he got inside."

To figure out the moral here,
We don't have to dig very deep:
People can know a lot about us
By the company we keep.

-by Bob B (8-14-21)

°An Aesop fable, "The *** and Its Purchaser," retold here in verse

The date was June 21
In 1964.
Three men° had no idea
What would be lying in store

When they drove through the South
In efforts to promote
Equality by helping
Register Blacks to vote.

They were in Mississippi,
A place that was known for attacks
On basic human rights--
For disenfranchising Blacks.

Arrested and jailed for speeding,
They should have been alarmed.
The locals were working against them.
Of course, the three were unarmed.

After they left the jailhouse,
They were abducted and killed
And buried in an earthen dam--
Their goals as yet unfulfilled.

Two months later the men's
Bodies were found at the site.
Compassionate people were shocked
As details came to light.

The KKK, the sheriff,
And police were involved in the crime.
All but one of the killers
Served very little time.

After years of struggle
And much to our dismay,
We can see voter suppression
Still occurring today.

Why when we seek fair treatment
Are we up against a wall?
Will we ever secure
Equal justice for all?

-by Bob B (6-22-21)

°James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner

Stories abound that Putin is ill.
The Kremlin, of course, denies it.
You could go over and check for yourself,
But, frankly, I wouldn't advise it.

You could find yourself sitting in prison
Or even be poisoned like some
Who spoke the truth about Putin, who wants
To keep you under his thumb.

Consider all the people who've died
Because of his current war.
The pain and suffering that he has caused
Are truly hard to ignore.

Could it be cancer that's spread through his body?
Perhaps a malignant tumor?
I'm sure there are many folks in the world
Who hope it's not merely a rumor.

-by Bob B (6-1-22)

There on TV, in plain view,
Right before our very eyes--
Although what the president said
Was shocking, it was not a surprise.

Pulling no punches, he admitted
That he would not keep a distance
From foreign meddling in our elections--
That he would accept Russian assistance.

He did it before, he'll do it again.
Whose interests is he protecting
When he accepts outside help--
Something he should be rejecting?

Instead of protecting democracy,
He is basically doubling back
By letting our whole election system
Be undermined by an outside attack.

After observing the president's actions
During the past few years, I guess
The fact that we're not shocked shows that
We wouldn't expect anything less.

Some people call it treasonous.
Trump calls it another name:
"Oppo research." Winning to him
Justifies it. It's just a game.

Is there a breaking point for congressional
Republicans? Hard to tell.
Why don't we just give the Russians our ballots
And let them vote for us as well?

-by Bob B (6-13-19)

All was still on the temple grounds.
The sun softened the morning haze
While birds playfully pranced about,
Enjoying the warmth from the sun's gentle rays.

Morning meditation ended.
The master excused the monks to do
Their duties. A novice stayed behind
To ask for a private interview.

"I understand," he said, "that it's
Time for us to do our chores,
But I have an urgent problem.
Can we speak behind closed doors?"

They entered the dokusan chamber where
Regular interviews took place.
The novice closed the door to the chamber.
There they sat, face to face.

The novice said, "I don't know
What to do. I'm bored to death
With daily meditation sessions.
I'm SO tired of watching my breath!"

The master nodded his head and replied,
"Bored, you say. Hmmm. I see."
He stood up, walked to the door,
Turned and said, "Come with me."

He led the monk to the river's edge.
There he grabbed him by the head
And held it under the rushing water
Until the young monk’s face turned red.

The novice squirmed and flailed his arms,
"I am going to drown!" he thought.
When the master freed him, the monk
Gasped for air, feeling distraught.

Admitting that his strategies
Were such that some would disallow,
The master said to the monk, “Tell me:
Are you bored with your breath right now?"

-by Bob B (4-1-19)

°An old Zen anecdote retold here in verse

If you plan to run for an office
With an R that follows your name,
The GOP must know you are
Completely willing to play its game.

If you do not follow the rules,
You'll find that you will be hard-pressed
To win elections nationwide.
To win there is a litmus test.

You must adhere to three ideas--
Three things that you cannot do.
First, opposing Trump's election
Lies would be the end of you.

Next, you cannot criticize
The U.S. Capitol insurrection
Of January 6 last year.
Condemn it and you'll face rejection.

Finally, if you oppose
Political violence, you will see
That you just don't fit in at all
With the current GOP.

A cult of personality
Is what the Party has become.
Winning culture wars is now
The Party's golden rule of thumb.

Pass the litmus test and your
Chances of winning will be greater.
Lack of integrity? What about that?
You can worry about that later.

-by Bob B (1-8-22)

Russian soldier, throw down your arms.
Turn around and leave Ukraine.
Are you proud of what you're doing--
Of all the innocent people you've slain?

Have you lost your dignity?
Your actions there will be your disgrace.
If you stand in front of a mirror,
How can you look at yourself in the face?

Doesn't it faze you when you hear
The cries of the people, day and night?
When homes and schools and hospitals
Are bombed, don't you feel contrite?

Have you lost some fellow soldiers
All because of Putin's lies--
Even though he calls his war
A military exercise?

Were your buddies' dying bodies
Left behind on the streets to rot?
Can you fathom the repercussions
Of what's going on, or can you not?

Are you proud of laying waste
To cities and towns in your neighboring land?
Human compassion: Could that be
Something you don't understand?

Stop doing Vladimir Putin's bidding!
Refuse his atrocious orders. Rebel.
Put an end to war crimes there,
And tell the tyrant to go to hell.

-by Bob B (3-24-22)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (10-17-24)