Today will be the kind of day
That I would rather wish away.
But wishing will not change the fact
That it's time to reenact
A little procedure--not so merry--
Which, I fear, is necessary.
For I have to prep, you see,
For my colonoscopy!

TMI, you say. Why share
The messy details of this affair?
Details? No, I'll spare you those.
That is something to leave to the pros.
But anyone who's done this before
Knows what tomorrow has in store.
Frankly, it's not my cup of tea--
Having a colonoscopy.

The prep is really the part I hate.
No solid food upon my plate.
And nothing purple, red, or blue.
Jello's the only thing I can chew.
Otherwise, it's liquids only.
My stomach's already feeling lonely.
Tomorrow I will eat with glee,
AFTER my colonoscopy.

Tonight at 6:00 the "clean-out" commences.
That could have bad consequences
If our toilet were out of commission.
Then I'd be in an awkward position.
Tonight you will have to admit
That you can’t say I’m full of &%!#.
I assume that you'd agree:
Not fun, a colonoscopy.

-by Bob B (3-8-20)

Curtis Yarvin--extremist blogger--
Is a real piece of work.
You'll find him on the Internet--
A place where many crackpots lurk.

He wants to dismantle the government
And force all government workers out
Through a plan that he calls RAGE°--
Something that he bandies about.

He claims that voting is now passé
And highly ineffectual.
He says he has a better idea,
This pseudo intellectual:

We should establish someone whom
He calls a “national CEO”--
In other words, a dictator.
He doesn't mince his words--oh, no.

Why do you think Trump is trying
To shut down federal agencies?
His blatant efforts to take control
Should put nobody's mind at ease.

And guess who's also been right there
In Yarvin's pocket all along:
JD Vance. He's singing the same
Scary, anti-democracy song!

They say our current Constitution
Is worthless and ought to be replaced.
In their eyes, our democratic
System should be laid to waste.

If people want to overthrow
Democracy, that's a good reason
For all of us to be alarmed.
That should be considered treason.

-by Bob B (1-30-25)

°Retire All Government Employees

It's such a disruption to my peace of mind
To witness the plunge of our great humankind.
Amazing potential is what we possess,
But **** it if we are not making a mess!

The human attention span's clearly decreasing,
And humankind's selfish demands are unceasing.
Conspiracy theories are way out of whack,
And good education is under attack.

Our probing, inquiring, sharp journalism
Is no longer trusted and faces a schism.
Reason is too often stopped in its tracks,
For too many people are falling for quacks.

And what about people who don't have a clue
Of being accountable for what they do?
They WILL not admit that they're wrong, and they claim
That other folks ought to be taking the blame.

So many people don't listen to reason--
That their form of patriotism is treason,
That storming the Capitol is a real crime
And that those who do it might have to serve time.

It also amazes me how an adult
Can fall for a weird personality cult.
Are people so desperate that they'll believe
The lies that their precious cult leader will weave?

A lot of folks don't trust the experts who say,
"Tomorrow depends on our actions today."
Such folks don't mind if we keep burning coal;
Renewable energy isn't their goal.

And then there are those who will NOT bid good-bye
To Trump's undeniably wacky Big Lie.
It really astounds me how some folks can't see
How dangerous their careless actions can be.

They'll trust information that's propagandistic,
And many of them have become nativistic.
Critical thinking has gone down the drain.
Is half of the country now going insane?

What--I'll keep asking--will be the solution
For stopping what seems like reverse evolution?
The thought has me feeling a bit ill at ease
That once again we might be swinging from trees.

-by Bob B (4-12-24)

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!

The MAGA-monster kept tearing down
Supports in every city and town.
The infrastructure of the nation
Was weakened by widespread strangulation.
The tactics that the monster applied
Were cruel, thoughtless, mean, and snide.
Stripping agencies to the bone,
He acted with glee and wasn't alone.
His loyalists, showing no opposition,
Helped him complete his heartless mission.

A land where freedoms once did abound
Became the monster's battleground.
He didn't merely ostracize
Subjects who didn't believe his lies,
But some he banished; some he would quell
And make their lives a living hell.
His minions sent out scary threats
And dampers were put on safety nets.
Such a demon, historians swore,
Had NEVER attacked this nation before.

The monster said, "I have to get tough.
Destroying one country just isn't enough.
Two countries to our north look inviting.
I must invade them. Oh, how exciting!"
People all over the world were in shock
And couldn't believe his absurd poppycock.
But once an idea entered his head,
He couldn't rest till he put it to bed.
When people suffered, it gave him pleasure.
His ghastly repulsiveness knew no measure.

Across the nation, people protested.
As desperate folks became more invested
In speaking their mind, the monster grew meaner
And felt his vindictive urges grow keener.
He called on his sycophants, saying "Distort
The TRUTH! I count on your total support!"
Politicians needed to fight
Along with the people to do what was right.
Hopes for relief appeared obscure.
How much more pain could the people endure?

(End of Part II)

-by Bob B (3-28-25)

PART ONE follows in case you missed it:

A Monster Story (Part I)

The MAGA-monster reared his head
To see how far his venom would spread.
"How dare they defy me!" he loudly exclaimed.
His hatred and anger could never be tamed.
Whether he told the truth or lied,
Whatever he said could not be defied.
If you chose to disagree,
His enemy was what you would be.
Loyalty was a major concern;
Those who withheld it were those he would spurn.

"I will show 'em!" he loudly roared.
His face turned orange as he brandished his sword.
His sycophantic subjects drew near,
Obsequiously kowtowing in fear.
He didn't care if someone should suffer.
His other concern: to take care of his fluffer--
One of the slimiest toadies around,
Who made the country his new battleground.
The two of them, salaciously smiling,
Had looks on their faces, oddly beguiling.

The monster's coffers were filled to the brim.
EVERYTHING was all about HIM.
He gave the semblance of caring, but no,
His woeful act was all bluster and show.
In other lands, to get more support,
He looked for other monsters to court.
Urged on by callous and heartless trolls
Who helped him achieve his nefarious goals,
The monster displayed an ego that grew
Taller than buildings on Fifth Avenue.

Where were the heroes who were not afraid
To challenge the monster and come to our aid?
Where were the champions, so brave and so deft,
To fight him from both his right and his left?
The MAGA-monster wielded his power
To make all the people around him cower.
A nation once full of hope and freedom
Had turned into an all-about-me-dom.
The selfish, contemptible, carrot-topped,
And cruel monster had to be stopped.

(End of Part 1)

-by Bob B (11-19-24)

MAGA - Make Americans Grovel Absolutely

I heard that seventy-percent
Of people here in a recent poll
Believe in angels, which I find
Very interesting on the whole.

It's quite all right if people want
To believe in their hearts that angels exist.
But I admit that I'm a skeptic
And do not want to be on that list.

I bet that most believers, however,
Do not think that angels have wings
And sit around in flowing gowns,
Holding their harps and plucking the strings.

Angels, spirits, ghosts, and demons
Are interesting and make great stories.
I find them entertaining, and I
Place them in similar categories.

Mythological characters
Are fascinating, and I suppose
That from our human collective unconscious
Such fantastical figures arose.

Do you believe in guardian angels?
Again, it's perfectly fine if you do.
Mine are doctors, nurses, teachers,
Friends, and paramedics, too.

So if I tell you that you're an angel,
You know I mean it figuratively.
It means you're special, and that is something
About which we would both agree.

-by Bob B (7-30-23)

Poor Donald. What took place?
You received the ruling of another case.
Consequences sometimes can be hard to face.
Poor Donald.

Poor Donald. What'll you do
Now that all your lies are catching up with you?
Accountability can be a dream come true.
But poor Donald.

Poor Donald. Don't say, "Pshaw!"
Conspiracy and fraud are both against the law.
The judge got fed up hearing all your blah, blah, blah.
So, poor Donald.

Poor Donald. Though you fight,
I guess that facts and truth can be your kryptonite.
The judge was baffled that you weren't at all contrite.
Yes, poor Donald.

Poor Donald. Do not pout.
Based on past experience there is no doubt
That donors and the RNC will bail you out.
Still, poor Donald.

Poor Donald. Hey, what now?
You'll be back in court, but it's amazing how
Folks can still consider you their sacred cow.
Yet, poor Donald.

-by Bob B (2-17-24)

(The format of this poem was inspired by a verse in Stephen Sondheim's song "Poor Baby.")

Have you heard of Ichneumon wasps?
Be glad you're not a caterpillar.
You'd have to be on the lookout for
The Ichneumon wasp--a serial killer.

The wasp will find a caterpillar
And suddenly will quickly surprise it
By stinging it--not to **** it--
Only to shortly paralyze it.

She lays her eggs inside her victim,
Which will eventually serve as food
For the growing larvae within--
The wasp's hungry little brood.

The larvae start with digestive organs
And chomp away on their scrumptious repast,
Somehow knowing that they must save
The heart and nervous system till last.

They keep their caterpillar host
Alive as long as they can, you see.
People say insects can feel no pain.
Would the caterpillar agree?

As Earth's living creatures evolve,
The fight for survival doesn’t seem fair.
Some creatures suffer more than others,
But nature’s indifferent and doesn’t care.

Wasps have predators as well.
Sometimes they're losers; sometimes they're winners.
The prey that escape are the lucky ones.
The unlucky prey become predators' dinners.

-by Bob B (3-10-25)

The frigid winter was colder than ever.
The porcupines, both young and old,
Were deeply concerned, for animal friends
Were dying because of the bitter cold.

Therefore, they decided that
It would behoove them all to form
A close-knit group. Huddled together,
They could keep one another warm.

It seemed like a good idea at first,
But then they agreed with unanimity
That being so close was not working out:
Their quills pricked porcupines in proximity.

But later they learned that separated,
They were worse off, for no denying,
Unable to keep one another warm,
The freezing porcupines were dying.

If they planned to survive the winter,
They had to act, and so they decided
That being banded together was more
Beneficial than being divided.

And so they grouped together again,
Realizing that they could endure
The little jabs from the others' quills,
But they would survive the winter for sure.

The moral: when we look at life
And consider all our interconnections,
It's best if we can learn to live
With one another's imperfections.

Another way to look at the story:
Life can be painful, but we should strive
To put up with all the ****** in life
If we truly want to survive.

-by Bob B (1-20-20)

°A popular tale (author unknown) retold here in verse

All of us vets once took an oath--
One that clearly demonstrates
That we will protect and defend the Con-
Stitution of the United States.

Members of Congress take the same oath
When sworn into office. This adjuration
Shows that they will do their duty
To honor, protect, and defend this nation.

This vow, this pledge, when we're sworn in
Is serious business--NOT a game.
Just as we made good on the oath,
The president should do the same!

-by Bob B (11-12-19)

Facing the inevitable
Is not always easy to do.
Call it facing reality;
That is what it's tantamount to.

For almost twenty years American
Troops have been in Afghanistan.
Propping up an unstable system
And fighting against the Taliban.

Now we are going to pull out our troops
And stop maintaining the status quo.
Many people feel we should
Have done it many years ago.

Cracking down on Al-Qaeda was
Our original reason for being there.
But after all this time it's hard
To handle what we now are seeing there.

Talks between the Taliban forces
And our previous administration,
Without including Afghan officials,
Have led to a tenuous situation.

Resulting from all the "cease fire" deals,
The Taliban were able to seize
All the regional capitals,
And then take over Kabul with ease.

Yes, the Taliban takeover has
Happened with a speed that is numbing.
Didn't our experts anticipate it?
Afghan forces saw it coming.

Some people say that we should stay there
To fight for the Afghans. The reason's clear cut.
Others say that that is complete
Nonsense--stay there and fight for what?

Giving the Afghans a certain amount of
Stability has been a huge endeavor.
But most Americans do not want
To stay there and fight insurgents forever.

While the country has made advances,
It is depressing to watch it careen
Into utter chaos. And now,
What happens next remains to be seen.

What's crucial at this moment, however,
Is that it's incumbent on us to conceive
Of any possible way to help
Afghans who fear for their lives to leave.

What a jam we find ourselves in
When leaders make unwise decisions!
Then others have to clean up the mess,
Which leads to even greater divisions.

-by Bob B (8-17-21)

Thanks to people who didn't vote
For putting us all in the mess we're in.
Thanks to those who were uninformed
For making sure that Trump would win.

A number of voters who took to the polls
Did us all a disservice because,
For one thing, a lot of them didn't
Even know what a tariff was.

For some, the word "autocrat"
Was not in their vocabulary.
A lot of those people voted for Trump.
Frankly, that is downright scary.

And even though in history classes
We have studied the past, it seems
That many people have forgotten
Or still don’t know what “fascism” means.

There were voters who said they'd never
Vote for a woman, and so they chose
To cast their vote for Donald Trump
To be a part of the party of bros.

To voters who cast a protest vote,
Now are you satisfied?
Do you see what happens when
Common sense and anger collide?

Of course, some just like the man.
They like Trump for his tough guy stance.
Watch as he and Elon Musk
Carry out their bro-romance.

A lot of people were clueless about
How the Biden administration
Played a substantial role in helping
Americans across our nation.

And so, we are stuck with a man
Who'll do his best to cater to
Extremists and wackos everywhere.
The damage will be hard to undo.

-by Bob B (11-18-24)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (10-11-21)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (10-18-20)

"Dear Donald Trump, my friend,
I bet your patience is wearing thin.
Because of your democracy,
Investigations are closing in.

"Since I can use my magic
To make people disappear,
Such investigative threats
Are never going to happen here.

"From watching your revolving-door
Administration, I can see
That you, like me, expect one thing
Above all others: loyalty.

"What is all this talk about
Ties with Russian oligarchs?
Don't your people realize that
Our bites are much, much worse than our barks?

"Although I appreciate
What you did during your campaign--
The helpful steps you took to soften
Your stance on giving aid to Ukraine--

"We still have a ways to go.
But one thing that I have to say
Is you have been good about
Respecting our little NDA.°

Lifting sanctions would be a big help.
I thought that maybe a good incentive
Would be our many ICBMs,
For you know we're very inventive.

But, no, let's not talk about threats.
If your cards are rightly played,
You will be as strong as I.
In other words, you'll have it made.

Ah, silence is golden, no?
One thing is sure as shootin':
I'd hate to have to spill the beans
'Bout you know what. Your friend, Putin.

-by Bob B (4-2-18)

°non-disclosure agreement

(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.)

Little Liam, you sit on my lap
And look at the world with questioning eyes.
What's going on in your little brain?
We adults can only surmise.

Too young to be afraid,
You are now so utterly obsessed
With putting everything into
Your mouth. Is that your litmus test?

At six months old, you probably
Expect to only be pampered and fed.
I doubt you have an inkling about
What adventures lie ahead.

I fear that we are leaving you
A world that's terribly disjointed.
We would love to make you proud
But fear you might be disappointed.

How could anyone hold you and not
Want to protect you to the hilt?
Your curious, trusting eyes, however,
Fill my aching heart with guilt.

All your uncle has to do
Is look into your innocent face
To know that he must fight much harder
To make this world a better place.

-by Bob B (12-22-19)

Trump's picks for his Cabinet
Are in-your-face kinds of picks.
It's obvious from what he's doing
That he is up to his old tricks.

He doesn't want the FBI
To be involved in the nominees' vetting,
Which Democrats and conscientious
Republicans find very upsetting.

For Secretary of Defense,
Pete Hegseth, a veteran who
Displays as part of his body art
A white supremacist tattoo?

Tulsi Gabbard as DNI°
Who couldn't pass a background check
Because she's compromised by Russia?
Trump's feelings: What the heck?

Matt Gaetz as Attorney General--
A grifter and a trouble-maker
Accused of ***-trafficking?
For Trump that's NOT a deal breaker.

Hegseth, Gabbard, and Gaetz are all
Deeply unfit for such positions.
A competent president wouldn't
Select them under any conditions.

It’s almost as if in making his choices
Trump is trying to deride
All of us by asking himself,
"Who is the most unqualified?"

Will Republicans cave in
To pressure from Trump or show some spine
And tell him no when he attempts
To sidestep rules and cross the line?

-by Bob B (11-16-24)

°Director of National Intelligence

This is my fourteen-hundredth poem
Published on my blog so far.
My inspirations are almost endless--
Sort of like an open bar.

I'm going to quote myself this time
By using almost to the letter
Lines that come from my twelve-hundredth poem.
It's hard to say it any better:

I've "published" my poems on various sites,
Which, as I said, include my blog.
"For me, my poetry collection
Is almost like a travelogue--

"A mental travelogue depicting
My thoughts traveling to and fro."
I'm never certain where my thoughts
Will take me. "I just go with the flow.

"Today might be a little visit
To a place called 'Hypocrisy-land.'
There you'll find politicians
Who have gotten out of hand.

"Tomorrow might take me to a place
Where I spend a lot of time--
A place where animals can talk
And anecdotes are put to rhyme.

"To outer space my mind might travel;
Or out to explore nature's wonders.
Perhaps I'll take a nostalgic trip
Or write about people's triumphs or blunders."

Climate change, current events,
"Unknown figures, people of fame,
Likable folks, and miscreants, too,"--
All these topics become fair game.

Religion is not off-limits, for I
Detest religious hypocrisy,
The ways religion is misused,
And the dangers of a theocracy.

Sometimes I'll write a poem that could
Be sung to a melody of my own;
Or maybe I'll write a poem that could
Be sung to a song that is well known.

"Eschewing ambiguity
Or language rich in metaphor,
I find that a simple, conversational,
Straightforward style suits me more.

"To many poets, poems that rhyme
Are--according to them--passé.
Although it has its limitations,
Rhyming for me is here to stay."

The quoted lines are what I wrote
In December 2021.
Writing continues to be a challenge
That's stimulating, exciting, and fun.

So when it comes to poetry,
I don't want to be myopic.
I maintain that anything
Imaginable can be a topic.

-by Bob B (6-5-24)

The Right bombards Facebook with ads—
Something that’s not rare.
However, lies fill the ads,
And Facebook doesn’t care.

Zuckerberg says that anyone has
The right to advertise.
People, he says, should know how
To tell the truth from lies.

Yes, if they're informed they should,
But if they form their views
From reading only the president's tweets
And watching only Fox News,

Then we have a BIG problem--
A real contradiction--
For how are they EVER going to be able
To separate fact from fiction?

-by Bob B (12-14-19)

(This poem could be sung to the tune of the Beatles' "Yellow Submarine.")

In the land where we now live
Lives a man who wants to be
Free to do whate'er he wants
With complete impunity.
He was once a president
Who thought he was king, you see.
His M.O. was to scrape by
With complete impunity.

No one here can be above the law,
Be above the law, be above the law.
No one here can be above the law,
Be above the law, be above the law.

And the people of the land--
At least most of them--said, "Aha!
Let us all reiterate…

"No one here can be above the law,
Be above the law, be above the law.
No one here can be above the law,
Be above the law, be above the law."

People all should ask themselves,
Should a criminal like this go free?
He should not keep getting by
With complete impunity.

No one here can be above the law,
Be above the law, be above the law.
No one here can be above the law,
Be above the law, be above the law.

-by Bob B (8-11-22)

The story below is just for fun--
Fiddle-de-dee and folderol.
But it has FIFTEEN spelling mistakes;
See if you can find them all.

           * * * * *

The steakholders got together
And poured over the company's books.
A certain member of the group
Was giving the others ***** looks.

You see, he'd been steeling from them
And had not been at all discrete.
After a few distractions, he said,
"My deer sirs, let's go eat.

"I don't mean to be callus, you see,
And there are concerns to bring to bare,
And though we must all tow the line,
With a bit of savoir faire,

"I have to say that this hole matter,
Is becoming quite a boar.
It greats on my nerves, to put it bluntly.
My head is throbbing; my heart is soar.

"All of us are wasting our time
Going over the books this way.
My soul desire would be that we
Could do this on some other day.

"You are all so smart, so clever,
So wise and astute, and SO judicious!"
The others, however, were on to him;
His words made them more suspicious.

One of the things that gave him away--
Something that ended up being so telling--
Was, along with his indiscretion,
The careless criminal's horrible spelling!

They remained there stationery.
One had already called the police,
Who soon arrived and took the embezzler
To jail, so now the cheating will cease.

The moral of the story is
One that's obvious, short, and sweet:
Don't give empty complements,
Watch your spelling, and DO NOT CHEAT!

-by Bob B (10-2-24)

Book banning is humankind's
Sad display of puny minds.
Narrowmindedness, indeed,
Spreads as does a nasty ****.

It's another way to control
What others can do, and on the whole,
Banning books is clearly a tool
Of harsh, dictatorial rule.

If you don't want your kids to peruse
A certain book, then you can choose
To tell your kids, "It's not for you."
But DON’T tell others what THEY can't do.

Some books headed for the bin
Have gay characters therein.
Making believe that gays aren't here
Will not make them disappear.

It's so absurd when people say
That books can turn their children gay.
Books can merely make it known
That gay youth are not alone

And that we are not all the same;
Therefore, no one should feel shame.
Families can be different from
One another. Rule of thumb:

Open minds, open hearts:
That's where loving acceptance starts.
Providing people with love and support
Is an idea we all should court.

And if a kid remarks, "Ye gads!
Why does Freddy have two dads?"
A book can show the reason why
And simply try to clarify.

If Hope, perchance, has TWO moms, we
Should not say "I disagree
With their lifestyle." No, we should
Say "LOVE is love, and LOVE is good."

Here's a thing to contemplate:
Books don't make us gay or straight.
Instead, they help us understand
Ourselves and thus should not be banned.

-by Bob B (8-25-24)

Sidestep’s a political cat--
Seldom around when you need him.
But it never fails: he is there
When it's time to feed him.

Early on, his mother knew
He'd be a politician.
As a kitten, he proved to be
A glib rhetorician.

He could talk his siblings out of
Any treat or favor.
He quickly learned what went down fast
And what he needed to savor.

In kitten school, he highly excelled.
Though not an expert reader,
He was good at giving orders,
For he was a natural leader.

When it came to loyalties,
You barely knew where he stood.
He was known as the "cagey one"
Throughout the neighborhood.

Now he thinks that caterwauling
Expresses his constitution,
And he has devoted time to perfecting
The art of circumlocution.

When you think you've pinned him down,
Much to your dismay,
He evades your prying questions
And suddenly slips away.

His donors, extolling his policies,
Are proud to be in his tribe.
What they might call a major donation,
Others call a bribe.

"Donations" consist of a dying lizard,
A tasty, half-eaten mouse,
Or a scrumptious piece of grasshopper
Next to the door of the house.

When the spotlight shines on him,
Oh, how his eyes glisten!
But sometimes he talks way too much
And doesn't like to listen.

He maintains his strategies
Are crucial for survival.
Thus, he looks for ways to smear
Any political rival.

He thinks he is quite the card.
However, opinions are split.
Though liked by some, many think
He's really full of spit.

"You will always win with me!"
Is one of his favorite quotes.
He hopes his fake sincerity
Will win him a lot of votes.

Sidestep runs a messy campaign
As he stands in front of the flag.
He just hopes that no one lets
The cat out of the bag.

-by Bob B (1-31-20)

Today I got
My booster shot.
I never had
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.

(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.)

Walking along a dusty road
In the heat of a summer's day,
Two weary travelers looked for a place
To rest along the way.

They wanted to find shelter from
The fiery rays of the sun.
One said, "Look! I see a place."
The other said, "Well done!"

They sauntered to spot nearby
Where a plane tree stood,
And plopped down on the ground below.
Ah, the shade felt good!

While lying there, one of the travelers
Looked up at the tree,
And said to the other, "This tree is quite
Useless. Don't you agree?

"It drops its leaves and produces no fruit.
Although it stands so tall,
It basically doesn't perform any
Service to mankind at all."

"You ungrateful person!," cried
The plane tree full of rage.
"How dare you be so insolent
With somebody my age!

"Here I stand protecting you
From the scorching rays
Emitted by the sun and yet
I get no word of praise.

"You enjoy my cool shade
And find relief therefrom
And then go on to say that I'm
A good-for-nothing ***."

Ah, the poor tree learned that human
Beings can be rude,
When they upon receiving kindness
Display ingratitude.

-by Bob B (8-24-21)

°An Aesop fable, "The Travelers and the Plane Tree," retold here in verse

The human attention span, they say,
Is getting shorter every day.
With so many distractions now,
People need a constant "Wow!"

Many get no satisfaction
Unless they are bombarded with action.
Instant gratification's a must;
A lengthy article's a bust.

Who spends hours with MOBY ****?
People prefer an action flick.
A long book now is hard to sell
And is a modern reader's hell.

Work makes students feel constrained
Unless they can be entertained.
Reading selections make us happy
Only if they're short and snappy.

Letter writing? A dying art.
We want our info à la carte.
Concentration only succeeds
If it fulfills immediate needs.

And some will ask for no repentance
If they can't get through this sentence.
Exaggeration? Perhaps, and yet,
There's some truth in it, I bet.

If none of this applies to you,
Then you deserve a loud "Woo-hoo!"
Enjoy some quiet time alone,
And most importantly, turn off your phone!

-by Bob B (1-9-21)

What should Americans do when they see
The president tearing the country apart?
What should we all rely on to guide us?
What are solutions? Where do we start?

We can't rely on our institutions,
For Trump's destroying them one by one.
That makes it harder to stop the man
And his partners in grime. Pardon the pun.

We can't rely on the DOJ,
For Trump's henchman is running the show.
Barr is there to do Trump's bidding,
To cover-up truths as the scandals grow.

Can congressional oversight
Stop the megalomaniac?
No, not when the Senate is full
Of Trumplican toadies who have his back.

It's up to the people to take to the streets,
To march, make phone calls, show our persistence
In striving to stop this brutal assault
On democracy through passive resistance.

Voting, too, will be crucial
If there are freedoms you want to save.
Through apathy and blind allegiance,
What you'll do is dig your own grave.

-by Bob B (2-15-20)

I woke up and straightaway
I felt the spirit of Christmas Day,
Although the day was cold and gray
On Christmas Day in the morning.

The memories of Christmas past--
Many of which are unsurpassed--
Are memories I hope will last
On Christmas Day in the morning.

No matter what all people believe,
The spirit of giving to which we cleave
Is possible for us all to achieve
On Christmas Day in the morning.

In order to save the human race,
Here's a goal we can all embrace:
Let's make the world a better place
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Spread goodwill and hopes for peace.
May our love and wisdom increase,
And may injustice and anger cease
On Christmas Day in the morning.

On Christmas Day we spread our cheer.
Let's spread it every day of the year.
We can do it if we're sincere
On Christmas Day in the morning.

-by Bob B (12-25-21)

Beware of populist demagogues.
Don't let them be misunderstood:
They build their popularity
Without promoting the public good.

They pander to passions and prejudice
And also hold reason and truth in contempt.
From all accountability
Demagogues want to remain exempt.

They are masters of the masses
And try to tear down norm after norm.
Using tricks to betray the people,
They are experts at how to perform.

Using their popular support,
They undermine our institutions.
Swindling us through sophistry,
They stand firm in their resolutions.

Wearing contempt that they invite
As a badge of honor, they hope
That no one scrutinizes them
Or puts them under a microscope.

Notice their quest for unrestrained power,
Their hunger for vengeance, their thirst for control.
Support for ideas that violate
The rights of others is often their goal.

Controlling the hearts and minds of the people,
They want you to think that they are friends.
Then they leverage your support
For their own political ends.

It's scary to think that Americans
Could eagerly cast their vote in a fog,
Electing a dangerous person who is
Clearly a populist demagogue.

-by Bob B (11-9-24)

°Inspired by the writings of Dani Rudrik, Eli Merritt, and Emily Pears

Do not live for tomorrow.
Try to discover how
To cherish every moment--
To live in the here and now.

Appreciate your loved ones.
Let their lives express
A deep connection to
Your inner consciousness.

Be sensible, though.
Don’t squander away
That which gives you a sense of
Security today.

Make the best of every
Moment, whether it be
One that’s filled with sadness,
Or one that’s filled with glee.

When your time is up--
Something you can’t forestall--
It would be sad to find out
That you never lived at all.

-by Bob B (2-8-21)

We see that Trump and his Republican
Friends are not averse
To funding cuts. Thus, they've become
Robin Hoods in reverse.

Robin Hood had a giant heart,
But this is quite a switch:
Republicans are robbing the poor
And helping out the rich!

Cutting healthcare and food assistance
Programs is their goal--
Something very unpopular
In almost every poll.

Some were holding out at first,
And, no, it wasn't a bluff.
They opposed the bill because
It didn't cut enough!

The bill also has a provision,
Which we know from reports
Takes away the contempt power
From our federal courts.

Is letting them take away our freedoms
Something we're okay with?
We must stop them from doing something
They shouldn't get away with.

Speak up! Protest! Raise your voice!
Watch Republicans gloat
As they take away our rights.
Remember that when you vote.

-by Bob B (5-22-25)

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (5-22-20)

There is a little, tiny tapeworm;
Anomotaenia brevis it's called.
Many people have studied this creature--
Some are amazed; some are appalled.

Needing to find a way to survive,
This tiny tapeworm seeks a host.
As it turns out, the woodpecker
Is the host it likes the most.

Certain ants like to collect
Woodpecker droppings. Is that surprising?
They feed the droppings to their larvae.
Yuck! Not so appetizing!

The droppings containing tapeworm eggs
Give some ants the parasite.
When they grow up to be adults,
Their behavior is not quite right.

The non-infected ants still feed them,
But they laze around, refusing to work.
Maybe their new behavior doesn't
Let them know where dangers might lurk.

The way they act increases the chances
That woodpeckers will eat them for dinner.
The question that people might have is this:
Who is the loser and who is the winner?

The birds eat the ants, become infected,
And leave their droppings, whereupon
The ants will feed their larvae the droppings.
The tapeworm cycle goes on and on.

How living forms have thus evolved
To use and be used in such odd ways
Shows the wonders of evolution--
Wonders that never cease to amaze.

-by Bob B (2-11-25)

Life as we knew it has changed for now,
With concerts, theater, and sports on hold,
For COVID-19, a nasty virus,
Is NOT your typical flu or cold.

Daily life is a challenge lately.
Former routines are now a chore--
Little things, like going shopping
And bringing groceries home from the store.

So much that we took for granted,
We now see from a different perspective.
Functioning while saving lives
Has to be our main objective.

Every day it's coronavirus!
Every day it's in the news.
Day and night it's coronavirus.
I've got the COVID-19 blues.

The Center for Disease Control
Is muzzled by the current regime.
We hear White House "happy talk,"
But things are likely worse than they seem.

Trump and his White House staff all know
That testing is crucial--at least for them.
And yet they say that WE don't need it.
Misinformation with a capital "M."

We deserve expert guidance;
We need the truth and a workable plan.
We've heard one lie after another
Since this deadly pandemic began.

Every day it's coronavirus!
Every day it's in the news.
Day and night it's coronavirus.
I've got the COVID-19 blues.

It's hard to watch the public displays
Of ignorance and the flouting of rules.
Conspiracy theories are rapidly spreading,
And truthers continue to act like fools.

Although it's easy to feel depressed
When listening to the White House clown,
It's important that we do NOT
Let adversity get us down.

As much as I'd love to hug my family,
Go to the theater, and be with friends,
I will do my best to remain
Healthy until the danger ends.

But meanwhile, it's coronavirus!
Every day it's in the news.
Day and night it's coronavirus.
I've got the COVID-19 blues.

-by Bob B (5-9-20)

I ran into Tom Turkey again,
Who quietly sat alone in a bar.
It had been a while, so I said,
"Hey, tell me how things are."

"Life for turkeys isn't easy.
You know each day could be our last.
Tomorrow I could end up being
A part of someone's sumptuous repast,"

He said, taking a sip of his brandy
And wiping a tiny tear from his eye.
"But," he added, "I guess you also
Never know when you might die.

"But a giant difference is
That though today you're strong and able,
If something happened to you, you wouldn't
End up on someone's dining room table."

Then he said, "Tell me something;
My reasoning here is kind of murky.
If someone is foolish, weak or inept,
Why do you call that person a turkey?"

"Sorry," I said, "but do understand:
The term wasn't created by me.
Nonetheless, I will attempt
To be more sensitive--more PC."

"Oh," he said, "one more thing.
It's a disgrace to us turkeys and NOT
Pleasing to see the people dance
A dance known as the turkey trot."

"That," I said, "is now obsolete.
The silly dance has faded away.
A turkey trot is now a race
Often occurring on Thanksgiving Day."

"That's a big relief," he said,
And then with a look of consternation,
He glanced at the clock, put on his hat,
And said he was going to a demonstration.

He picked up his placard and left the bar,
Making me feel slightly barbarian.
Across the sign that poor Tom carried
Were scribbled the words: GO VEGETARIAN!

-by Bob B (11-26-19)

How lucky we have been in life!
We found each other, and then voila!
We became a partnership,
Clearly defying Murphy's Law.

One thing, however, that's certain is death.
No, we don't know when or how
We'll have to bid adieu to each other
And sadly take our final bow.

If I'M to go FIRST, it breaks my heart
To think of leaving you alone,
Even though I know that you'll
Be able to manage on your own.

If, however, your death must
Precede mine, without a doubt,
It will be unbearable,
For you'll be hard to live without.

A sad inevitability--
An aspect of life we must accept--
Is that one day we'll have to part.
Death is not a promise unkept.

Courage and love are what we need.
Our love, for certain, is overflowing.
To help me deal with uncertainties,
My courage still needs room for growing.

We've had many years together.
I hope life gives us many more
Before it's time for us to cross
Over to the other shore.

-by Bob B (4-3-24)

Ah, Ukraine! It pains the heart
To see what you are going through.
How are you ever going to survive
What Vladimir Putin is doing to you?

Homes, schools, and hospitals bombed…
Roughly two million people fleeing…
The country's infrastructure collapsing…
It's hard to believe what we are seeing.

All because of an insecure
Madman who rules the country next door--
A madman who lies to his people in order
To justify his cruel war.

Will Putin level all the cities?
"Level"--a horrible palindrome!
What will returning Ukrainians find
Standing if they ever come home?

Putin rules with an iron fist.
For anybody to stop him is tough.
We have to rely on the Russian people
To say, "We have had enough!"

How much more can the rest of the world
Do to help--to ease your pain?
You need much more than cautious concern
To end the anguish, dear Ukraine.

-by Bob B (3-11-22)

(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.)

This is poem 1500
Of all the poems I catalogue
By date--including year--when I
Add them to my poetry blog.

After adding 1500
Poems to my résumé,
I am sure that readers wonder
If I have anything left to say.

There's ALWAYS something to write about.
Although as crazy as it may seem,
Many of my poems, I'd say,
Are variations on a theme.

Very straightforward is how I like them--
Not ambiguous, highbrow, or deep.
At times mine cause a controversy
When I choose to take a leap.

Different things will stimulate us.
For some of us it's reading and writing.
When we look at the universe
With wonder, every day's exciting.

As long as there are hypocrites,
Religious fanatics, thoughts to explore,
Natural wonders, current events,
And tyrants, I’ll have topics galore.

And so I'll keep on plugging along
Until my mind and body give out,
At which point I'll “lay down my pen,”
Without a whimper, without a shout.

-by Bob B (3-18-25)

War criminal Netanyahu
Still isn't satisfied
Even after 52,000
People who lived in Gaza have died.

He wants to prolong the Israeli presence
In war-torn Gaza, which will mean
The campaign of carnage will continue.
Ah, the Israeli war machine!

Mass population transfers!
Ethnic cleansing! That's his plan.
Meanwhile, there will be much more
Suffering. What a despicable man!

Blocking food, blocking aid,
Netanyahu doesn't care
Whether he breaks international
Laws and causes death and despair.

Being anti-Netanyahu
Doesn't mean you're antisemitic.
Decrying atrocities in Gaza
Doesn't make you an unfair critic.

October 7, 2023,
Was a horror, without a doubt.
But how many more people will die
Before both sides will iron things out?

-by Bob B (5-9-25)

When I kick the bucket and if you see my family,
Please don’t be tempted to say,
“It was quick; he didn’t suffer long”
Or “Be happy that he’s no longer in pain”
Or “He’s now in Heaven or in the Pure Land”
Or “He lived a good life.”
Just hug them and say,
“I’m sorry” (if you are)
Or “I acknowledge your grief” (if you do)
Or “We will all miss him” (if you will)
Or “I’m surprised the SOB lived as long as he did” (if that’s how you feel).
No, maybe you won’t want to say that--not if you are talking to my family at least.
Then smile
And reflect….
Reflect on the fleeting nature of life,
On what it takes to live life fully,
On the inexplicable mysteries of life,
On the persevering and miraculous aspects of Nature,
And on the amazing interconnectedness of all things.
Grieve if you must,
But not for too long a period.
Don’t let it cause you to miss a game
Or a party
Or a dinner
Or a show.
Just continue being the special person you are,
And live!
Live!
Live!
Live!

-by Bob B (6-26-22)

After high school graduation
In May 2023,
Eighteen-year-old Nevaeh Crain
Discovered she was a mother-to-be.

A mother-to-be in Texas, however,
Is no longer a top priority,
For her body turns into something
Over which she has no authority.

Excited about the pregnancy,
Nevaeh--vibrant, young, and strong--
Was doing well until the day
Of her baby shower, when something went wrong.

She grew ill and had to go
To the hospital. Time number one.
They gave her antibiotics and sent
Her home; her troubles had barely begun.

Back to the hospital she went
Writhing in pain. That is when
They said she had a UTI
And sent her home with some meds again.

Nevaeh returned to the hospital.
A miscarriage was suspected.
However, they couldn't act until
No fetal heartbeat was detected.

Nevaeh's mother panicked when seeing
Her daughter's ****** hospital gown.
Things grew worse as sepsis started
To shut Nevaeh's organs down.

Delayed miscarriage treatment
Meant the untimely and sad demise
Of young Nevaeh Crain who suffered
And died before her mother's eyes.

Again, doctors in Texas are fearing
Prosecution for doing what's right--
For giving needed care to women,
On whom strict laws have cast a blight.

Do not listen to lawmakers
Who push their agenda with lies and distortion.
Abortion bans EVEN **** women
Who normally wouldn't have an abortion.

-by Bob B (11-2-24)

The Internet was abuzz this week;
It had to do with a possible slip.
They say that during an interview,
Eric Swalwell° let one rip.

The sound was caused, Swalwell says,
By a mug scraping across a desk.
The big hullabaloo has made
The incident rather Chauceresque.

Even if there happened to be
A breaking of wind, not so mute,
Tell me: what on earth could be
More natural than a little toot?

But Swalwell wants to make it clear
To anyone who might be a doubter:
The sound picked up by the mics was most
Assuredly NOT a slipper-outer.

-by Bob B (11-20-19)

°U.S. Representative for California's 15th Congressional District

(This poem could be sung to the melody of "Michelle" by John Lennon and Paul McCartney.)

D.T., you'll see:
Though you fool your minions with your lies,
You don't fool me.
D.T., je sais…
Je sais qui vous êtes vraiment…je sais…
Je sais vraiment.
Say, what the hell were you thinking
When you took all those docs?
You think that simple locks
Will protect top secret docs from getting out of your hands?

D.T., I'll say
You aren't fit to run this country; no,
I say no way.
There are folks out there who want you
To be their shining star.
They don't see who you are.
Or if they do, they might see through your guise, and they dare
Not to care.

You HAVE to know that you aren't guilt free.
But does that faze you? No.
You just put on your show.
To get your way you have to play the martyr each day.

D.T., you'll see.
Fess up to your wrongs and be a man.
Yes, be a man.
I say accountability's a word that you have to learn,
Dear D.T.

D.T., you'll see:
Though you fool your minions with your lies,
You don't fool me.

-by Bob B (8-14-22)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (7-29-20)

Welcome back to Trumplandia, folks.
The people have decided
To put a man in the White House who wants
To keep the country divided.

Trump's more pompous, more brazen than ever--
Expecting all to kowtow.
If you thought he was bad before,
He's Trump on steroids now.

He is trying to micromanage
The country. That's his goal:
To stifle dissent and pressure supporters
To give him total control.

Filling federal agencies
With sycophants, he knows
He'll obtain undying support
From his Trumplican schmoes.

History is currently being
Rewritten. Say good-bye
To safeguards of democracy.
They're in short supply.

You say the country isn't racist?
Stop and look around.
Project 2025
Is getting off the ground.

Diversity has now become
A practice to assail.
You will get more privileges
If you're white and male.

Agencies must have the approval
Of Trump's administration
Before they are allowed to release
Pertinent information.

The concept of being fit for positions?
That's not Trump's concern.
It's ALL about WHAT you can do for him
Or how much money you earn.

Many folks now live in fear
From one day to the next
Of being deported when Trump's anti-
Immigrant muscle is flexed.

Trump knows how to manipulate people--
How to control and deceive them.
He knows that if he repeats his lies,
His people will believe them.

So welcome back to Trumplandia, folks.
If you're a tried and true
Bigot, racist, or xenophobe,
This is the place for you.

-by Bob B (1-26-25)

OFF TO CANCÚN

So if you're a U.S. Senator
And your state is besieged by cold,
Extreme weather, putting the state
In a catastrophic stranglehold,

With power outages, houses flooding
From bursting pipes, people dying,
Shortages of food and supplies--
The situation terrifying--

How do you help your constituents?
How do you show them that you are in tune
With all their pain and misery?
I know: why not fly to Cancún?

Ask Ted Cruz. That's what he did.
He did it for his kids, he said.
Why suffer here when he could
Play on a Mexican beach instead?

Actually, he cut his trip short,
And flew back home earlier than planned,
Only because he'd gotten caught
And had to leave the sun and sand.

Cruz reveals how little he cares
About the people and dodges attacks.
In a crisis, leadership matters.
And that is something the Senator lacks.

-by Bob B (2-19-21)

FLY ME TO CANCÚN

(This poem can be sung to the melody of the song "Fly Me to the Moon" by Bart Howard.)

Fly me to Cancún
So I can play upon the sand.
Let me get away from Texas.
Cold I can't withstand.
I want to play…in the sun.
I want to play….Who will miss me?

People in my state
Should understand what it's about.
I don't think the government
Should have to bail you out.
Just blame the Dems; they're the cause.
Yeah, blame the Dems, and their laws.

Anyone who wants
To leave can do it if they choose.
I am being attacked
Just because my name's Ted Cruz.
Some people say I'm not fair.
In simple words…
In simple words
I don't care.

-by Bob B (2-19-21)

(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.)

(This poem can be sung to the tune of the Shangri-La's 1964 pop hit "Leader of the Pack.")
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8UKf65NOzM

Are they really voting for him?
Well, yes, they are. Just ask them.
Voters, are those MAGA hats that you're wearing?
Hm-hmmm…
Gee, it must be strange voting for him.
Did you think he'd make the country great again?
Uh-huh.
Tell us why you support him.

We watch him on the TV screen.
It seems his simple words ring true--
That's what we think. (Yes, you do.)
That's why we follow (the LEADER OF THE CULT).

He says that he is the chosen one (one, one).
And knows how the country ought to be run.
(Whaddya mean when he says he knows how the country should be run?)
He says he can't do wrong--
That with him we'll be strong.
That's why we follow (the LEADER OF THE CULT).

He says the president's like a king.
Silencing his critics is his thing.
(Whaddya trying to say when you say he's like a king?)
He will defy Congress, he said.
And that's how we will get ahead.
That's why we follow (the LEADER OF THE CULT).

He doesn't care if Russia's involved
In our elections--that's all right.
In his opinion, Russia is absolved.
If he acts out of spite,
As long as he wins, that'll be delight!

Right now! Right now! Right now! Right now!

He says that his intentions are real.
We don't care what things he tries to conceal.
We'll let him get his way;
We're going to do whatever he'll say.
We will always follow (the LEADER OF THE CULT).

-by Bob B (2-2-20)

(In the musical PETER PAN, Captain Hook, in the song "Captain Hook's Waltz" by Jule Styne, Adolph Green and Betty Comden, boasts about his villainy. Here Donald Trump, who prides himself on being as obnoxious as possible, sings his version. The responses of his admin team are in parentheses.)

I'm the greatest ruler of all time.
Who was Mussolini?
(Nobody!)
Who was ******?
(Nobody!)
Who is Vladimir Putin?
(Nobody!)

Who's the greatest deceiver of all?
(Donald Trump!... Donald Trump!)
Who's the MOST shameless man in this dog-eat-dog world?
(Donald Trump!... Donald Trump!)
Expert at knowing how someone can dupe
Others by showing how low ANY dictator can stoop.
(He'll stoop!)

Who's the basest of bullies around?
(Donald Trump!... Donald Trump!)
Who's unpliable?
(You!)
Unreliable?
(You!)
Who do some think could be certifiable?
(You!)
And who couldn't care less if the rest of the world's in a slump?
(World's in a slump!)
(No one else but Donald Trump.)
…
Who's the neediest?
(Neediest!)
Who's the seediest?
(Seediest!)
Who's the greediest?
(Greediest!)

Who's the MOST expert fibber around?
(Donald Trump!... Donald Trump!)
Who's displaceable?
(You!)
Ineffaceable?
(You!)
Who rich oligarchs find irreplaceable?
(You!)
Who's the slimiest, snakiest, snarkiest, scruffiest grump?
(Scruffiest grump!)
(All bow down to the king!)
If you want you can kiss my ring.
(The con with a plan.)
I guess I'm your man.
(Donald)
Trump
(Trump! Trump!... Trump! Trump!)
Trump
(Trump! Trump!... Trump! Trump!)
Trump!

-by Bob B (2-3-25)

He died at seventy years of age;
His words had poisoned a nation.
Much of what he ranted about
Was total fabrication.

White identity politics:
He set a blueprint for that.
And when he criticized liberals,
He upped the thermostat.

Race-baiting for him was certainly
Par for the course.
Constant attack was his strategy,
With no hint of remorse.

Being politically INcorrect
To show his point of view
And crossing the line of propriety
Were what he loved to do.

True he had his loyal fans
Who would never condemn
His bigotry and conspiracy theories.
What is wrong with them?

The Capitol insurrectionists,
Naturally, he'd spout,
Were NOT thugs, but patriots!
Figure that one out.

When giving him the Medal of Freedom
Despite his divisive ways,
Trump insulted all the people
Truly deserving of praise.

There are some who’ll jump for joy,
Knowing that Rush is gone.
But sadly all his vitriol
Continues to live on.

-by Bob B (2-18-21)

Some people talk about the power of prayer.
Although there's never a guarantee,
That's their business to pray if they choose.
But, frankly, praying's not for me.

Some people pray for departed souls
And feel that it makes a difference, you see.
If that consoles them, that is fine.
I just let the departed be.

Some people pray for lots of money.
Money's important; I agree.
But I say just go out and earn it.
Therefore, praying's not for me.

Some people pray for those who are sick
And suffering in an infirmary.
I just hope they are getting good care,
For I feel health care workers are key.

Some people feel that praying helps
Their lives by setting their worries free.
I just hope that all works out
For the best, but praying's not for me.

Some people pray to be prettier, stronger,
Wiser, better…but I say, "Gee,
Be content or make things happen.
Let that fill your heart with glee."

Some people have all kinds of reasons
To pray that go from A to Z.
I just cross my fingers and hope.
But praying? No, that's not for me.

-by Bob B (12-21-21)