How you shine your light on the world,
Your energy and self-expression,
Your sense of purpose, your urge to create,
Your individual, lasting impression,

Your essential values, the way
You try to relate to everyone,
How you cope, and how you see life--
That's all symbolized by your SUN.

The image that you have of yourself,
Your subconscious predispositions,
How you fulfill emotional needs,
How you respond to certain conditions,

Your sense of belonging, how you like
The feelings of being inside your cocoon,
Your longing for security…
That's all symbolized by your MOON.

Communication, your conscious mind,
Your logic, your reason, and how you think,
How you establish connections with others
With whom you want to remain in sync,

The manner in which you express your perceptions,
Your intellectual give and take
Are symbolized by your MERCURY,
Which loves learning for its own sake.

Your need to establish relationships,
Your sharing, your giving and your receiving,
Your values, your tastes, your urge for pleasure,
Your knowledge that harmony's worth achieving,

Your sense of collaboration, your need
For comfort with all that it emphasizes,
Your strong desire to protect those you love--
That's what your VENUS symbolizes.

What about your will-power,
Your strong initiative and drive,
Your self-assertion, your energy,
The power that makes you feel alive,

Your sense of individualism,
Your urge to reach beyond the stars,
Your action, impatience, and petulance, too?
That's all symbolized by your MARS.

When you want to expand your horizons,
When limitations would be a horror,
When you have an urgent need
To improve yourself and be an explorer,

When connecting with something else
That's greater than you can make your day,
When you are hopeful and optimistic,
Your JUPITER is having a say.

Is there a need for social approval,
For discipline and organization?
Are you a little fearful of change
And seek to establish a solid foundation?

Do rules and boundaries give you peace?
Do you find virtue in follow-through?
Can you be a bit rigid at times?
If so, then SATURN is working through you.

Perhaps you're feeling slightly eccentric,
A bit detached, in need of a change.
Maybe you're being a non-conformist,
And others find you a little bit strange.

Are you feeling rebellious and willful
And wanting to break with the status quo?
Are you impulsive, intense, or restless?
Then your URANUS has you in tow.

If you're a dreamer who's somewhat elusive,
Compassionate, and idealistic,
Who wants to be free from your ego-self
And tap into a life that's artistic,

And if you have the urge to assist
Those who suffer from exclusion,
Let your NEPTUNE energy flow.
Just watch out for escapist delusion.

Perhaps you want to penetrate
The psychological depths of being
And also feel a transformation
Of consciousness--a new way of seeing;

Maybe you want to analyze life,
Let go of the old, question taboos,
Explore compulsions, and try to transmute them
Into new form. Then PLUTO's your muse.

By tapping into the energies
That flow through us and make us whole,
We can grow from our self-knowledge
And self-exploration--a wonderful goal.

-by Bob B (2-23-22)

(This poem can be sung to the tune of the 1922 song "Toot…Toot…Tootsie, Good-bye.")

Tucker,° can't you say when?
You have done it again.
What IS your fascination
With someone who's a real threat to our free nation?
Giving Putin free rein
Is nothing short of insane!
How could you not
Be overwrought
When you let the Russian tyrant bolster his plot?
Therefore, fingers are crossed
That you'll somehow get lost!

Letting Putin spread lies,
Tucker, isn't so wise.
You, of course, are guilty of that,
And when you do you cater to the autocrat.
You think Moscow's so nice.
So, I won't tell you twice.
Surely you could
Do what you should:
Pack your bags, get on a plane, and move there for good.
When your jet's in the sky,
Tucker, we’ll wave good-bye!

-by Bob B (2-14-24)

°Tucker Carlson: political talk show host fired from Fox News in 2023

Compared to the age of the universe,
Our time on Earth is rather brief.
Still, the longer we live, the more
We'll walk hand and hand with grief.

Death knocks on the doors of others
And calmly ushers them away.
No matter how much a person resists,
Death will have its final say.

When losing family and friends,
It's hard to describe the pain we feel.
But when we consider our own demise,
The whole idea is oddly surreal.

The thought of suddenly being no more--
At least in our current ****** form--
Is totally foreign to us, for knowing
The world through our senses has been the norm.

Someday my favorite chair
Will no longer feel my rear.
The sound of my voice--my cries, my laughter--
Will not reach a single ear.

When I go, I’ll join the ranks
Of billions of other people who
Have died before me, which reminds me
That having to die is nothing new.

To let go and face the unknown,
Not to worry, not to fret…
We know that life is constant change--
That death is part of life--and yet….

-by Bob B (4-26-22)

Is it a fair accusation
That Facebook spreads misinformation?
QAnon lies--
No big surprise--
Are truly a cause of vexation.

Freedom of speech, people say.
If they want to lie, that's okay.
That they bespatter
The truth with their chatter
Seems to grow worse day by day.

But QAnon isn't alone.
Other groups also have shown
That lying's an art,
So they play their part.
The extent of the damage? Unknown.

Yet Facebook insists it is trying
To clamp down on all of the lying.
But the COVID distortions
Are at epic proportions,
And thus many people are dying.

-by Bob B (7-19-21)

DT sings to himself in the mirror:

I LOVE how folks bow down to me
And say my work's a job well done.
That's because so many can see
That Donald Trump is the Chosen One.

I alone can fix this land.
My work here has just barely begun.
When I have the upper hand,
I'll prove I am the Chosen One.

You'll get away with everything.
Stringing people along is fun.
And you can act as though you're king,
Or better than that: the Chosen One.

The Bible I have never read,
But bucks will flow in by the ton
When I sell it, for it's said
That I am really the Chosen One.

Christ and I are much alike--
Each a victim; each a son.
Opponents all can take a hike.
Best beware of the Chosen One.

I'm invincible 'cause I'm smart.
Are there folks who are brighter? None!
But still some want to tear me apart.
Look what they're doing to the Chosen One.

If I do not win this fall,
The election, I'll say, was badly run.
How could anyone have the gall
Not to vote for the Chosen One?

All the folks who criticize
What I do are those we'll shun.
I'll make it my enterprise
To market myself as the Chosen One.

With the Trump card, we will win.
Look at me: I made a pun!
I'm flawless, for I never sin--
Not when I'm the Chosen One.

Oh, my goodness, I'm so proud
Of all the tales that I have spun.
I know how to work a crowd,
Pretending I'm the Chosen One.

Me be scrupulous? No way!
You'll get farther if you're un-.
I don't care what critics say
Because I am the Chosen One!

-by Bob B (4-6-24)

Ongoing instability
Continues in the Middle East.
All who long for peace can't wait
Until this brutal conflict has ceased.

We know it started long ago--
Disputes over territory.
We can also see that there
Are TWO sides to this sad story.

Israelis versus Palestinians:
We've watched back-and-forth retribution.
Why must it be so difficult
For there to be a two-state solution?

Why does it have to be so hard
For the world to pressure both sides to meet
To iron out a workable plan
So neither side must admit defeat?

We're saddened by the loss of lives
And feel a sense of deep frustration.
But there is a feeling of optimism
Expressed in the following quotation:

"From the seeds of hope, the tree
Of peace will grow…."° If THAT'S fulfilled,
The tree will shelter both sides AND
No more blood will have to be spilled.

I treasure such optimistic words
But feel as though I want to shout,
"Israelis and Palestinians,
Together work this **** thing out!"

-by Bob B (5-4-24)

°Quote by Nadeem Ahmed

With its trusty algorithm,
Facebook prioritizes for you
Posts and ads so that you see
What it THINKS you want to view.

Bold and sassy, the company
Doesn't even apologize
When certain Facebook users receive
Political ads that are filled with lies.

By the way, are you a purist,
Whom the trend might disturb
To see "like" used as a noun
And the word "friend" used as a verb?

The world today revolves around
"Clicks" and "Likes" on the Internet.
People become bizarrely obsessed
With how many "Clicks" or "Likes" they get.

Email to many is cumbersome,
But if there's something you want me to see,
The BEST way to ensure that I see it
Would be to email or text it to me.

-by Bob (1-17-20)

My grandfather used to think
That reading wasn't doing.
Keeping busy with projects was
The path that's worth pursuing.

For him, reading was what he did
When all his work was done.
At that point he could sit and relax
And have a little fun.

I, however, feel that reading
And doing are one and the same.
I can read for hours and hours
And not feel an ounce of shame.

Reading exercises the brain
And is an active pursuit.
One could hope the activity
Would open the mind to boot.

True, sometimes I read too much--
Maybe more than I should--
And chores end up on the back burner.
That's not always good.

But I cannot imagine a world
Without reading and books.
And Grandfather's no longer around
To give me ***** looks.

-by Bob B (8-19-23)

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (9-3-21)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (10-19-21)

A second term of Donald Trump
Would be a nightmare, to say the least.
Here are potential team members
Now that he's unleashed the beast:

Stephen Miller

A policy adviser to Trump…
Crafted border separation…
A white nationalist at heart…
Massive voter fraud his fixation…

RFK Jr.

Blamed Bill Gates for tracking chips…
Bioweapons from DNA?...
Vaccine conspiracy theorist…
Total nutjob! What more can I say?

Kash Patel

Trump loyalist par excellence…
Foot soldier for Donald Trump…
Threatens revenge against Trump's critics…
Trump commands, Patel will jump!

Russell Vought

Architect of the terrifying
Project 2025…
Withheld aid from Ukraine…
Keeps MAGA nonsense alive…

Founder of think tanks for Donald Trump…
Is fine with Christian nationalism
And presidential power over
The courts…. That's called despotism.

Richard Grenell

Part of the "Stop the Steal" effort…
Super MAGA through and through…
Wants government offices
Filled with MAGA loyalists, too…

Flirted while in Germany
With the ascendant German far right…
Looks for authoritarian leaders
With whom Trump can closely unite…

Steve Bannon

Believes you completely destroy opponents…
Strongly in favor of mass deportations…
Our institutions must be destroyed:
Another one of his recommendations…

Vivek Ramaswamy

Believes the "Great Replacement" conspiracy
And other crazy theories as well…
A son of immigrants, he also pushes
Nativist bigotry. What the hell?

Jeffrey Clark

Thinks the president should have
Power over prosecutions…
Election-related racketeering:
One more of his contributions…

__

This is only a partial list
Of dangerous people lining up
To bow down to Donald Trump,
Kiss his ring, and drink from his cup.

-by Bob B (10-10-24)

It's said that a dog is "man's best friend."
To me they're a pain in the ****.
Usually, when I see a dog,
I see a mangy mutt.

Yipping, barking, slobbering, howling,
Shedding, pooping, and such,
Dogs are very high maintenance creatures,
Which can be a bit much.

I cringe when they run up to me
And want to spray them with mace
When after licking their rear, they try
To lick me in the face.

And cleaning up after them? My goodness!
It would make me gag
To pick up a giant pile of ****
With my hand in a plastic bag.

They can let the smelliest farts.
Granted, so can we.
But we can leave the room, or at least
Say, "Please pardon me."

And when they get sick, they crap all over
And ***** and make a mess.
It makes me want to throw up as well
And find a rapid egress.

Sometimes they'll ruin household items
By chewing on this or that.
And I will scream the loudest curse
Whenever I step where they shat.

Some dogs are much more tolerable
Than others, I'll admit.
If I pet one, I'm being nice
And not a hypocrite.

Dogs, I know, bring lots of joy
To people's lives. That's fine.
But I expect their pets to behave.
That's the bottom line.

I'm sure I'm in the minority
To feel the way I do.
But everyone has the right to share
His or her point of view.

Dog lovers will probably say
I'm just a grumpy old man.
Perhaps, but when it comes to dogs,
I'm simply not a fan.

-by Bob B (1-26-24)

We hear that Trump enjoys keeping
In touch with his ***** buddy,
Vladimir Putin; in fact, he could be
Putin's understudy.

Their commonalities are clear--
These two peas in a pod.
Cut from the same piece of cloth,
Both pretend to be God.

Both of them disdain opponents;
Both want total control;
Both of them are leading the people
Down a rabbit hole.

Putin will find a way to jail
Whomever he sees as a threat.
He's had a few of his critics killed;
Trump hasn't--at least not yet.

Birds of a feather flock together;
So the saying goes.
When it comes to gaslighting,
Putin and Trump are pros.

No one's surprised why Trump is for
Cutting off aid to Ukraine,
For HE knows very well that its
Loss is Putin's gain.

Why Putin meddles in our elections
Is obvious, for he
Wants his pal in the White House again--
Yes, his fellow pea.

Both of them have taken the art
Of lying to greater heights.
Both of them are not averse
To trampling on our rights.

Russia is stuck with Putin until
The tyrant meets his end.
But we have the choice at the ballot box
To stop Putin's friend.

-by Bob B (10-8-24)

Lay your wreath, light your candles,
And think on all that’s good and say
“Never again!” as we reflect
On Holocaust Remembrance Day.

How can humans be so cruel?
A question we must ponder as we
Think of the millions who lost their lives
Because of gross inhumanity.

Sadly there are people who
Deny the truth of the Holocaust.
With cold and calloused hearts they refuse
To acknowledge the many lives that were lost.

If we ignore the enormity
Of all the crimes committed, then
How will we ever be sure that such
Atrocities won't happen again?

May all who perished rest in peace.
We must keep human hatred at bay.
In fact, every day should be
A Holocaust Remembrance Day.

-by Bob B (4-17-23)

Donald Trump, convicted felon…
We know it's power for which he thirsts.
Craving attention, he's also managed
To earn for himself a number of firsts:

The first U.S. president
Impeached by the House, not once but twice!
(He always has to one-up himself.
For MOST presidents, just ONCE would suffice.)

The first former president
Tried and convicted on thirty-four counts!
(While ONE would be enough for most,
We know how much he loves AMOUNTS.)

The first convicted felon running
For the office of U.S. president!
(How many firsts can this man handle--
This New York/Florida resident?)

Our justice system is catching up
With Donald Trump, and it's about time.
For many years the man's been able
To get away with crime after crime.

But once again he'll play the martyr--
Especially now that he's been convicted--
Even though his constant troubles
And suffering are self-inflicted.

Thirty-four counts! But wait, for there
Are more indictments. Will there be
More convictions down the road?
We will have to wait and see.

-by Bob B (5-31-24)

As the House members turn up the dial
At the president's impeachment trial,
If you're keeping score,
You'll see more and more
That the GOP lives in denial.

How can a trial be legit
If Midnight Mitch will not permit
Key witnesses there?
He says, "I don't care.
Who needs a trial? Just acquit."

His reasoning's so hard to parse.
He basically says, "Kiss my ****."
There's SO much at stake,
But HE'S going to make
The trial in the Senate a farce.

-by Bob B (1-22-20)

Twenty twenty-one is now
Behind us and we're moving on.
But sadly we are starting out
This brand new year with Omicron.

Concerned individuals
Observe the facts and then implore us
To put our heads together to deal
With challenges that lie before us:

Catastrophes from climate change,
Threats to our democracy,
COVID variants running rampant,
Distrust and religious hypocrisy….

Also, wherever you look these days,
You'll notice many a trend-setter--
The toxic, obstreperous type who feels
The more obnoxious you are the better.

Lies spread like wildfire.
Far too many people pursue them
And let them color their fantasies
Instead of trying to see right through them.

And so we have a giant task:
To spread the truth and let it guide us--
To put more faith into checking facts
And not let fallacies divide us.

So that's my VOW if I may have
A vow for 2022--
Mainly because relying on reason
Is surely the proper thing to do.

-by Bob B (1-1-22)

The DNC commenced last night,
And wow, what a shot in the arm!
Mr. Trump had better watch out!
He must feel a sense of alarm.

How refreshing it is to feel
Optimistic once again!
Enlightening, it was like
Experiencing a moment of Zen!

Dignity, decency,
Love, integrity, and truth
Were key words mentioned last night.
Let's hope they inspire our youth.

Women's right to make their choices
Regarding their bodies was a theme.
And how to control corporate greed
Should be more than just a dream.

Celebrating our common purpose
And selfless leadership as well
Made the atmosphere electric
And cast a thrilling, uplifting spell.

Giving praise to diversity
And honoring the working class
Were key last night, along with the hope
Of shattering the ceiling of glass.

When Hillary spoke--oh, my goodness!--
No doubt about it: she was on fire.
Hearing such a powerful speech
Is something of which I never tire.

President Biden was recognized.
Graciously, he passed the baton
To Harris, who will lead us forth.
It's no longer Joe versus Don.

We can see a brand new light.
The bright future will contrast
With Trump's barely illuminated
Journey back to a dismal past.

Freedom and democracy
Are entering a new dimension.
What a motivation for voters!
What a way to start a convention!

-by Bob B (8-20-24)

Trump and his lawyers had better shut up
If they want to win his case.
They're digging a deeper grave each day
In efforts to try to stir up Trump's base.

Every time Trump opens his mouth
He sticks his foot deeper inside.
He lies to justify his actions,
But facts are something from which he can't hide.

We have the videos, speeches, and tweets,
In which Trump makes his intentions clear.
Will he keep pushing the envelope
As the upcoming trials draw near?

"Most Republicans act like weak jerks,"
Says Trump, as he goes after his own.
Nothing or no one is sacred to him;
He can't even leave his supporters alone.

They have to "get tough" and "fight fire with fire,"
He says. The man cannot keep quiet.
It's almost as though he's intent upon
Instigating another riot.

Trump has been admonished to watch
His words and actions before his trial.
Is that even possible
For someone like him who lives in denial?

Will he attempt to cooperate?
Most likely he will try to derail
Our system of justice. We will see.
Maybe he'll blow it and end up in jail.

-by Bob B (8-5-23)

The River of Lies and Deceit keeps flowing.
It's obviously a matter of course.
Desperation and guile feed it,
And Donald Trump is the river's source.

Almost everything that comes
Out of that man's mouth is a lie.
Have the psychoanalysts tried
To figure out the reason why?

Poor ***** training perhaps
When he was a kid, wetting his pants?
Does that explain his nasty behavior?
Does that explain his childish rants?

Call someone a socialist
And that will spell the person's doom,
He thinks. Donald Prevaricator
Ought to be his nom de plume.

He lies about his opponent's record;
He lies when he talks about immigration;
He lies about election polls;
He lies about the state of the nation;

He lies when he speaks of border issues;
He lies about his foreign connections;
He lies about the economy;
He lies about fraud in our elections.

Would it be better to count the times
He tells the truth instead of lying?
Hmm. Let's see. It's going to take
A while to do it…. We're still trying.

How he gets away with it
Is really hard to understand.
Meanwhile, the River of Lies
And Deceit continues to flood the land.

-by Bob B (8-31-24)

The clown show in Arizona
Still hasn't come to a close.
When will the nonsense stop?
Well, good gracious! Who knows?

A group called the Cyber Ninjas
Is making a horrible mess.
How they could be so obnoxious
Is anybody's guess.

Trying to squeeze blood from a turnip,
They want to show everyone
That voter fraud ran rampant,
When most of us know there was none.

Among the crazy theories
That they have up the *****
Is that the ballots might show
Fragments of Chinese bamboo!

The crazy, preposterous theory
For which they have affection
Is how the Chinese attempted
To meddle in our election.

In states where Republicans won,
Republicans shout out, "Yippee!"
Where Democrats won, however,
The Right says, "No, that can't be."

Matthew Gaetz was joined
By Marjorie Taylor Greene,
The bully who's also known as
The wacko QAnon Queen.

The two showed up at a rally
To offer their support,
Showing how low they'd stoop--
To what they will resort.

Tampering with equipment
With actions so obtuse,
The "auditors" now have put
The voting machines out of use.

This all shows what can happen
When people get their high
Not by believing in reason,
But instead by promoting a lie.

The news of this clown show is spreading.
Moreover, from what we can tell,
You might be seeing the same
Buffoons in your state as well.

-by Bob B (5-23-21)

Distractions! Distractions! Trump LOVES to distract us,
And while he is doing it, he MAKES his own rules.
Whether it's Panama, Greenland, or Canada,
He keeps on rambling and thinks we are fools.

His LACK of coherence, his constant annoying
And petty retaliatory remarks
Are really quite worrisome. Watch how he caters
To all of his cronies and rich oligarchs.

To serve as his hatchet man, Trump has appointed
His billionaire buddy, and he by and large
Should take all the heat, but when questioned the liar
Says, No, Elon Musk really ISN'T in charge.

Constantly signing executive orders
That limit our rights and display his disdain
For truth and democracy, Trump doesn't care about
Those who are suffering. Look at Ukraine!

So while he's distracting us, Cabinet members
And others are tearing this country apart.
This is so obvious: he's Putin's puppet
And Putin is someone he'll never outsmart.

Medical research and Social Security:
Two of our programs now under attack.
And overseas aid and our trusty post office…
So many cuts that it's hard to keep track!

There are Trump voters who say they are shocked about
All of the damage that he has been doing.
But if they had only been paying attention,
They would have noticed that it had been brewing.

It is incumbent on all concerned people
To keep a clear focus and not take Trump's bait.
Despite what he says to us, he is most certainly
Hurting this country and WON'T make it great.

May all the protests increase their momentum.
May voices of protestors let it be known
That WE won't put up with the Trump-regime carnage.
The king of lies MUST be removed from his throne.

-by Bob B (3-25-25)

A hungry fox was walking along
And spied some very familiar shapes.
Deep in a garden he noticed a trellis
From which were hanging some bunches of grapes.

"I must have those grapes," he thought.
He took a giant leap but found
The fruit too high and so he landed
Empty-handed back on the ground.

"This is not a good thing at all.
Perseverance!" he said, but when
He leaped into the air for the fruit,
He landed empty-handed again.

"****!" he exclaimed. "Not to eat
Those luscious grapes would be a crime,"
And so the exasperated fox
Attempted to reach them one more time.

But, alas, once more he failed.
"Oh, well," he sighed. "Some other day.
Why did I waste my time? Those grapes
Were probably sour, anyway."

Of course, the fable has a moral:
Often we become upset
And criticize and denigrate
Whatever it is that we can't get.

Ah, but there's another lesson:
Why rush to grab the grapes on the vine
When we can wait a little longer
And then partake of some heavenly wine?

-by Bob B (8-25-21)

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

Two men stopped by a Zen temple
To speak with the temple master, who
They hoped would eagerly share with them
His honest and expert point of view.

The first man said, "I think I want
To move to the local town, so please
Tell me what the town is like.
That will put my mind at ease."

The master responded, "Tell ME about
Your current town. How would you rate it?"
"Ugh!" the man replied. "The people
There are mean and hateful. I hate it!"

The master listened calmly, and then
Shaking his head, he said, "It's clear
From what you have been telling me
That you would also hate it here."

The man bowed and left the room.
The second man entered the room and sat.
He also inquired about the town
And the surrounding habitat.

"Tell me about your current town,"
The master said with a smile on his face.
"The people are nice," the man replied.
"It's a truly wonderful place."

"Ah!" the master exclaimed. "Then from
What you're telling me, I can tell
That you without a doubt are going
To love the local town as well."

-by Bob B (3-3-21)

°An old Zen anecdote retold here in verse

Americans will very soon
Be heading back to the voting booth.
This election is all about freedom;
Ignoring THAT is denying the truth.

Freedom--that is--to live in a place
Where shooting deaths are minimized--
Where commonsense gun control
Measures can be exercised;

Freedom to live in a country where
The rule of law is held supreme
And isn't flouted and trampled on
By an administrative team;

Freedom for women to make decisions
Regarding their reproductive rights,
Which have been attacked by those
Who whet extremist appetites;

Freedom to access IVF
Treatment, which should be guaranteed
For anyone who's able to
Afford it and when there is a need;

Freedom to follow any religion
Or even to follow none at all,
And NOT have religion ****** on others,
For that's not anyone else's call;

Freedom to be the person you are
And not what others say you must be
Because they do not understand
Your natural trans identity;

Freedom to live in a country where
The right to vote is not suppressed,
And unscrupulous people don't make
Denying election results their quest;

Freedom to live without the worry
Of having your marriage rights denied
By folks who feel that anti-gay
Discrimination is justified.

Freedoms should NOT be taken lightly.
They're HARD to come by; EASY to lose.
Do we want to maintain our freedoms,
Or see them threatened? We must choose.

-by Bob B (7-30-24)

An Arkansas pastor claims
That half of his church is willing to lick
The floor to prove that COVID-19
Is merely a hoax--a liberal trick.

In Florida, a megachurch
Pastor brazenly defies
An order restricting gatherings
Of more than ten people. NOT very wise.

The Bible study teacher for
Trump's Cabinet displays
His ignorance in blaming the spread
Of the virus COVID-19 on gays.

But no, not only on gays, but on
Environmentalists to boot.
How dangerous when an adviser at
The White House is a spiritual brute!

As if he knows the mind of God,
He says that God is angry; hence,
God is punishing humankind.
Where are reason and common sense?

It's hard to believe that in this year--
2020--one could swallow
Such poppycock, such balderdash,
Such vacuous words, cold and hollow.

-by Bob B (3-31-20)

It seems that many speakers of English
Appeared to succumb to slumber
When English lessons were taught regarding
The words "amount" and "number."

Large amounts of time. Correct.
Large amounts of rice.
"Amount" refers to something seen
As a mass, to be precise.

But when we refer to things we can count,
"Number" should be used.
For some reason, English speakers
Often get confused.

A large number of people, we say,
Vote in our elections.
Or a number of germs out there
Can cause major infections.

A large amount of people? No!
Do not go there, please.
But it's quite all right to request
A small amount of cheese.

"Beans" is one of those funny words
Often used as a mass:
I ate a large amount of beans,
And boy, do I have gas!

It really shouldn't be too hard
If you know how to count
To know how to distinguish between
"Number" and "amount."

-by Bob B (4-1-22)

So often we hear "Live the moment!"
"Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,"
"You may delay, but time will not,"
And "Carpe diem!" or "Seize the day!"

Ah, such reminders cajole us,
Tease us, nudge us, make us reflect.
Alas, the wise admonitions
Always seem wiser in retrospect.

Flowers wilt; snows melt;
Mountains crumble by and by;
The universe is constantly changing:
Stars are born, while others die.

Acknowledging that everything passes
And changes, deep inside we hold fast
To stubborn longings of permanence--
To vain hopes that all will last.

-by Bob B (11-2-17)

If vital evidence is withheld,
In NO way can a trial be legit.
Such a trial would be a sham;
Our system of justice would take a hit.

If key, relevant witnesses
Cannot testify, then how
Can the outcome of such a case
Be valid? It can't. What's happening now

In the Senate is a travesty.
Finding the truth is not the goal.
Kowtowing Mitch McConnell
Disgustingly has sold his soul.

The president's lawyers focus on
Arguments completely off base.
They try to distract the members of Congress
With info irrelevant to the case.

Still obstructing Congress, Trump
Expects that he will be acquitted,
When in actuality,
He really ought to be committed.

-by Bob B (1-28-20)

Despite what people want to believe,
COVID hasn’t disappeared,
And yet there's less attention being given
To masks and precautions, which is weird.

The virus continues to mutate, and though
It's maybe less potent than earlier forms,
The clouds haven't dissipated,
So we can expect future storms.

Even though the virus seems weaker,
People still grow ill and die.
The vaccinated are more protected;
There's no need to wonder why.

It's sad to see restrictions being
Lifted too early in certain cases.
Variants of the virus are spreading
Rapidly in certain places.

Conspiracy theories abound regarding
The COVID vaccine, sad to say.
But I'll take my chances with the vaccine
Over COVID any day.

And if you think that COVID was bad,
Experts warn us not to be smug.
Chances are good that in the future
We will see a deadlier bug.

In the meantime, I'll keep getting
My booster shot, and I know I'm
Going to be wearing my mask in buildings
And also on planes for a long, long time.

-by Bob B (4-21-22)

The race is on. Watch the runners.
They will soon be rounding the bend.
Oh, the excitement! Oh, the thrills!
We're all wondering how it will end.

Runner number ONE is full
Of life, enthusiasm and grace.
Runner Number TWO, much older,
Has trouble keeping up with the pace.

Runner ONE advances with goals;
She will move the country ahead.
Runner TWO--a he, by the way--
Would move the country backwards, instead.

HER focus is not on herself;
What's BEST for the country is her aim.
HIS focus is how he can boost
His OWN ego and garner fame.

HER beliefs are true and sincere.
HIS, however, seem so shoddy.
In fact, the phony doesn't even
Have a religious bone in his body.

She is optimistic about
A future that's bright and full of hope.
He is full of negative rants
And looks and sounds like a misanthrope.

SHE believes in letting the voters
Fairly decide if she will win.
From past experience he knows
That ONLY through cheating he'll save his skin.

Will Runner TWO stay on his feet,
Or will he trip over more of his lies?
Can Runner ONE keep her momentum
As her supporters' spirits rise?

And on they run. Their fans are cheering.
My goodness! It would be so fine
If Runner Number ONE could be
The first to cross the finish line!

-by Bob B (8-10-24)

Careless protesters gather together
In cities across the United States,
Criticizing stay-at-home orders
And thumbing their noses at the Fates.

Unmasked demonstrators stand
Only two or three feet apart,
Indicating a lack of caution
And showing us they are NOT being smart.

It doesn't help when the president
Encourages foolish behavior. What's more,
Far-right militia thugs show up
And look as though they're waging war.

Nobody cherishes not being able
To socialize with family and friends.
All of us look forward to
The day that social distancing ends.

Everybody wants to get
Back to normal as soon as we can.
But to do it we need to have
A thoughtful, safe, reliable plan--

A plan assembled by experts for whom
Saving lives is the main goal
In order to help us back on our feet
While getting the virus under control.

Ignorance is a poor companion.
When life throws us a wild curve ball,
Remember: people's stupid behavior
Endangers not only them but us all.

-by Bob B (5-3-20)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (10-26-21)

How often throughout our history
When it was growing clear
That danger approached did people say
"It couldn't happen here"?

Could Russians imagine atrocities
That Stalin would engineer?
How many of them might have thought
"It couldn't happen here"?

When ******'s concentration camps
Started to appear,
How many Germans also insisted
"It couldn't happen here"?

Chairman Mao had policies
So vile, cruel and severe
That millions died. How many had said
"It couldn't happen here"?

Pol *** with his Killing Fields
Caused millions to shed a tear.
Had Cambodians also thought
"It couldn't happen here"?

Complacency is dangerous
When there are reasons to fear
That tyranny is possible,
For it could happen here!

-by Bob B (10-29-24)

In horror we watched as our nation's
Capitol Building was overrun
By wild, angry pro-Trump mobs
On one…six…twenty-one.

Who were these people? you might ask.
Do you really want to know?
It's hard to imagine how people here
Could be so vile and stoop that low.

We could see T-shirts that read
6 - M - W - E.
"Six Million Wasn't Enough"
Is what they say it means, you see.

The number "Six Million"° refers
To the number of Jews whose lives were lost
Back in the 1940s during
The nightmarish Holocaust!

At least one **** wore a T-shirt
That read "Camp Auschwitz." He's a guy
You wouldn't want to bring home to Mother.
I'll give you fifty reasons why.

Some stormed through the halls of Congress
Waving Confederate flags. How telling!
Others were members of white militias,
Running through the building and yelling.

Others involved were QAnon people
Who have nothing better to do
Than think up bizarre conspiracy theories
And then pretend that the nonsense is true.

Members of the KKK
Also showed up there to endorse
The president. But who is shocked?
That is merely par for the course.

One thing that united them all
Was how they swallowed the president's lies.
After he fired them up at a rally,
Their wild behavior was not a surprise.

Trump says these are patriots!
Patriots? If such a display
Shows patriotism, then Trump is growing
More delusional every day.

-by Bob B (1-9-21)

°Some estimate that the number was millions more

We're ****** into the Game of Life
Crying, "Here I am! Make way!"
And then we have to play along,
Whether or not we want to play.

Confused and bewildered at first, we strive
To gather together strategic tools
To help us maneuver through twists and turns,
And as we play we learn the rules.

The game's not always easy, for our
Priorities often need rearranging.
What makes life even trickier yet
Is that the blasted rules keep changing!

Once in a while we win a round;
And then once in a while we lose.
We learn to celebrate our gains,
To ride out storms, to pay our dues.

We also learn that fellow players
Are NOT always on our side.
Thus, it's necessary for us
To be prepared for a bumpy ride.

Along the way, we will encounter
Liars who try to sabotage
Our efforts to thrive. We also have to
Learn what's true and what's a mirage.

Ah! Those moments of happiness--
We want to grasp them to make them last.
But sad times make their unwelcome entrance
And must be dealt with until they've passed.

Close calls often occur, and at times
We don't even know that they are there.
Don't be neurotic and paranoid,
But here's some advice: always beware.

Play with gusto, and always maintain
The enthusiasm of a beginner,
For in this game, each of us
Can ultimately be a winner.

Once we make our final move,
Forget grasping, fortune, and fame.
The rules will have changed again;
We'll be playing a different game.

-by Bob B (3-22-20)

A couple decided to stop
To look for some books in a shop.
Content with just four,
They walked out the door
With "*** After Sixty" on top.

The wife sat down and read through it.
"Honey," she said, "let's pursue it.
I like the suggestions,
But one of my questions
Is DO you think YOU can still do it?"

-by Bob B (5-12-22)

Musk is currently taking his chainsaw
To Social Security. Watch him cut!
We're on to you, Elon Musk!
You think the people don't know what's what?

Breaking a trusted agency
That serves the people: that's Trump's goal.
He has appointed Musk to be
The Terminator: that's Musk's role.

If they can wreck the agency,
Then they can rob it. Sorry, folks.
And all the talk of rampant fraud
Is nothing but a lie, a hoax.

They've been firing employees from
A system that is already stressed.
It's being tossed into the water
To sink or swim with no life vest.

With field office closings and no
Phone service, what do you do?
Musk is turning the system into
A troubling dilemma--a catch 22.

The Secretary of Commerce says
To stop the checks and see who complains!
Only the fraudsters will, he adds.
Does he think we have no brains?

Outraged is how we ALL should feel.
These are benefits people have earned
From payments made for many years,
And now the people are being burned.

Attend town halls! Demonstrate!
Speak or forever hold your peace!
Save Social Security!
The deadly attacks on the program must cease.

And by the way, if people are
Disgusted with Musk, that's no shock.
But if you have invested in Tesla,
You really ought to sell your stock.

-by Bob B (3-22-25)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (9-15-21)

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

Senator Ted Cruz of Texas
Has a gripe with Big Bird now.
Big Bird mentioned his vaccination,
And Ted Cruz had a cow.

That is government propaganda,
Cruz declared, as if on cue.
But vaccinations have been a theme
With Big Bird since 1972.

Big Bird feels that public health
And safety are an important aim.
It's sad but also not a surprise
That Cruz doesn't feel the same.

Perhaps Big Bird should talk about
The issue of massive voter fraud
Or giving tax breaks to the rich--
A couple of topics that Cruz would laud.

Or maybe Cruz would much prefer
That Big Bird go in a different direction
And tout the January 6
U.S. Capitol insurrection.

Ted Cruz is totally
Obsessed with things that he abhors.
Instead of working to help the people,
He's too caught up in his culture wars.

-by Bob B (11-9-21)

°Big Bird is a larger-than-human puppet on the children's TV program "Sesame Street."

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

America, what's happened here?
You're covered by a cloud.
We're now constrained to shed a tear,
For how can we be proud?
America, you've offered us
Such wonders since your birth.
But now you see how sadly we
Have failed to prove our worth.

America, from east to west
Your history reveals
That in the past we once were blessed
With passionate ideals.
But now we can observe that we
Are burdened by extremes.
Must we regress from hopefulness?
What's happened to our dreams?

America, since early days,
We've grown from cause to cause.
But now we watch as lawmakers
Find ways to bend the laws.
Integrity was once admired,
Equality a goal.
But greed and hate won't make us great.
What's happened to our soul?

America, we'd hoped that you
Would loudly sing your song--
That colors true--red, white, and blue--
Would carry us along.
A crisis looms, the likes of which
We haven't had before.
The case is grave; we've got to save
This land from shore to shore.

-by Bob B (1-21-20)

It was only six months ago
That we had an insurrection
Because a former president
Refused to believe he lost an election.

Inciting a large part of his base,
He kept repeating his dangerous lie,
Casting doubts on election results
That Congress was going to certify.

Many people want to pretend
That nothing serious happened that day.
They THINK that by ignoring it,
The whole nightmare will go away.

Gaslighting the public by making
People believe what isn't true
Further emboldens extremist groups
That Trump has given oxygen to.

Many members of Congress want
To get to the bottom of what occurred.
And yet the deniers are trying to squelch
The investigations, from what we've heard.

We need to know the facts: the whats
The whys, the whos, the hows and the wheres.
Let's get to the bottom of this
Horrifying state of affairs.

Over 500 people have been
Arrested for the part that they played
That day in storming the Capitol Building
And carrying out their disgusting crusade.

Whatever you do, do not call them
Patriots or tourists! NO!
The word "insurrectionists"
Is really much more apropos.

The more the truth is revealed, the more
We will understand, and then
We can hope that such an attack
Never ever happens again.

-by Bob B (7-6-21)

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (10-25-21)

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

We now live in a dictatorship!
Make no bones about it; it's true.
We thought we had a democracy,
But Trump has pulled a switcheroo.

Look at what the man is doing.
What's happening is not an UN-
But ANTI-constitutional
Power grab--second to none.

In order for him to achieve his goal,
He has pulled out all the stops.
Notice how often he's in the news
With dictatorial photo ops.

We are facing a crisis here,
With civil liberties under attack.
Trump will make an unlawful decree,
And then his toadies will pick up the slack.

Defying the courts and criticizing
Federal judges, he has bent
The rule of law, which he will flout
And always try to circumvent.

His obsequious friends in Congress
Sit by and watch this disaster take place.
Some say they don't like what he's doing
But will not tell him so to his face!

People, do not let this happen!
Do not fall for the tricks and lies.
We are rapidly losing our freedoms.
If you can't see that, open your eyes.

-by Bob B (3-20-25)

With Trump back in the White House, life
Gets more dangerous every day.
The safeguards that had been in place
Now are quickly slipping away.

Without U.S.A.I.D.,
Diseases in other countries will spread.
While Trump hits his golf ***** around,
We will all be counting the dead.

Viruses that were under control--
Such as measles--will be on the rise
As Trump's dubious medical "experts"
Stifle the truth and spread their lies.

The firing of CIA employees
And FBI employees as well
Endangers us as the agencies try
To function with limited personnel.

In the past, a security clearance
Involved a background check. No longer.
They're passed out as though they're candy.
Compliments of the powermonger.

Giving in to adversaries:
Another unprecedented matter.
Trump is handing over to Putin
Ukraine's head on a silver platter.

By weakening NATO, Trump is giving
Putin the chance to expand his "realm."
How can world peace survive
With such egomaniacs at the helm?

As the Republicans make cuts
To Medicaid, people will suffer.
If anyone is struggling now,
Just wait: things will get much tougher.

Cutbacks in programs for veterans
Endanger the lives of more of our vets.
But Trump and Musk don't give a ****.
They act without thinking and have no regrets.

As regulatory agencies
And authorities are no more,
Trump and his team of cut-throats are putting
More lives at risk than ever before!

Trump and attack dog Vance both show
The world how they are immature.
They think they're tough, but they are really
Cowardly, weak, and insecure.

How sad to have a president
Who is so willing to sell us out!
Is he going to destroy this country?
I have not a shred of doubt.

-by Bob B (3-1-25)

It doesn't matter whether we
Are Christians--no, not one bit--
To celebrate the spirit of Christmas.
Believers need not have a fit.

The joy of love and giving and spending
Time with family and friends,
Of wishing happiness and peace,
Of letting go and making amends

All can permeate the day--
Not just the day, the season in toto.
Let the happiness be seen
In every charming holiday photo.

Show the spirit of love and compassion
To everyone of every creed.
Let us all find ways to give
Comfort and aid to those in need.

Let's not close our eyes to all
The suffering that's all around us
And not let people with hateful agendas
Harden our hearts or distract or confound us.

The holiday is a time to reflect
On love, acceptance, and understanding.
And may our efforts to stop all wars
Around the world be ever expanding.

That's the Christmas spirit that we
Can spread to all with heartfelt cheer,
And NOT just during the holidays,
But every day throughout the year.

Merry Christmas, happy holidays, or happy whatever to all!

-by Bob B (12-25-23)

When Teflon Don was under attack,
He would shrug his shoulders and scoff.
But finally it appears as though
His Teflon coating is wearing off.

Many people want to see justice.
For some an explosive was ignited.
They can't stand the thought that their
Former president was indicted.

They call it a witch hunt, a dangerous
Abuse of power, a communist plot,
A vengeful attack by angry libs--
All of which it's truly not.

Trump's attorney, Michael Cohen,
Had to serve a prison term.
If current charges are related,
Is that why Trump is starting to squirm?

If he is innocent, so be it.
Let's repeat day after day
The mantra "No one's above the law."
If he is guilty, then he should pay.

-by Bob B (4-1-23)

This is a tale of a ruler;
Vladimir Putin's his name.
Unlike a man with a conscience,
This one has no sense of shame.

His paranoia controls him.
His ego controls him as well.
Among our current world leaders,
We can find no parallel.

Running the world's largest country
Can be a challenge that's tough;
However, as large as it is,
To Putin it's not large enough.

So now he has sent Russian troops
Into the land of Ukraine.
Putin's great thirst for power
Is something that he can't contain.

Putin can't stand the idea
Of having a country next door
That's strong and democratic.
For him that's a reason for war.

He came up with false excuses
To justify his attack.
How does one deal with a lying
Megalomaniac?

How many people will suffer?
How many people will die?
How many now will be homeless?
How many children will cry?

How many more dissenters
Will end up going to jail?
Which world democracies
Will Putin try to derail?

Who is the next to be poisoned
For speaking his or her mind?
With how many more rubles
Will Putin's pockets be lined?

Most of the world agrees
That Putin is clearly a brute.
Praise that day when the Russians
Finally give him the boot!
Yes, praise that day when the Russians
Finally give him the boot!

-by Bob B (2-27-22)

(For some reason, I found this poem in my DRAFTS. I guess I hadn't "published" it for public eyes, and it sat, along with 25 or so of my other poems, in my DRAFTS folder until today. Sorry about the delay.)

If other people said all the things
That Trump says, they would find
Themselves being carted away, for we
Would think that they had lost their mind.

But no, for some unhealthy reason,
Trump will say whatever he wants--
Whatever comes to his evil mind:
Jeers, untruths, attacks, and taunts.

He makes huge issues out of nothing--
Thinking he is Cool Don--
Instead of solving important matters
That we need to focus on.

He's still obsessed with trans issues,
Although trans people represent
A tiny percentage of folks in this country.
But Trump prates on and won't relent.

How can his fans sit there and listen
To all the lies of the Great Pretender?
He tells them their kids can go to school
And come home later a different gender!

When I hear him spout such nonsense,
I cannot help but utter an oath.
Anyone who believes such crap
Has to be crazy or stupid, or both!

-by Bob B (1-24-25)

JD Vance, what a performance!°
Yes, you are a slick debater.
However, much of what you said
Shows that you're a fabricator.

Blaming all the problems that
America faces on Harris is wrong.
You're VERY good at one thing, though:
Stringing a lot of people along.

You criticize Harris for
Not effecting policy.
Did you forget that she is NOT
The president, but his VP?

When asked to give a solution for curbing
Gun violence, this is yours:
Making windows with thicker glass
And putting stronger locks on doors!

You STILL will not admit that Biden
Won the 2020 election!°°
You and the truth apparently
Suffer from a disconnection.

And you won't disavow the hoax
Of Springfield migrants eating pets.
Your lack of compassion for immigrants
Is about as bad as it gets.

You lied about your previous stance
On a nationwide abortion ban.
If people want a mini-Trump,
Well, Mr. Vance, you’re their man.

Hopefully, people saw through
Your slick and smarmy presentation.
I also hope that when they vote,
They know who'll truly help this nation.

-by Bob B (10-3-24)

°Referring to the Tim Walz/JD Vance vice presidential candidate debate
°°After the debate Vance made the ludicrous statement that Trump had indeed won the 2020 election!