If three billion years ago--
According to what the scientists say--
We were merely single-celled beings,
We have come a long, long way.

It’s hard to imagine life before
Becoming multi-cellular creatures
With such a wide assortment of
Fascinating traits and features.

If sixty percent of our DNA
Is shared with fruit flies, we can see
That we humans and fruit flies have
A certain commonality.

If ninety-two percent of our
DNA is shared with mice,
Before we take their little lives,
Do we ever stop and think twice?

Before we **** that fly or rodent--
For reasons that number more than a dozen--
We could at least show a little
Respect and say, “Sorry, Cousin.”

-by Bob B (12-30-19)

Dear President Zelenskyy,
Why the hell did the fates
Make Trump the president
Of these United States?

I guess that last November millions
Of people didn't vote,
So NOW for four more years we are
Stuck with that old goat.

Your Oval Office meeting didn't
Turn out well last week.
It's hard to get your point across
When Trump won't let you speak.

Certainly, you know that he's
Vindictive, rude, and crass.
He expected you, of course,
To kiss his giant ***.

His rudeness, incoherence, scorn,
And total disrespect,
Show that he's a man-child whose
Behavior goes unchecked.

He has NO compassion for
The people of Ukraine
And chooses--along with Putin--to treat
Your country with disdain.

We know that Russia attacked you, but
Trump is world-renowned
For telling lies and says it was
The other way around.

His idea of helping other
Nations--they will learn--
Is giving support if he receives
Something in return.

Protecting world democracies
Is not his thing, and that’s
Because he is enamored of
The world's autocrats.

Trump turns many folks against you;
Be that as it may,
Those who love democracy
Are with you all the way.

You're a hero to many of us
For how you've led your nation
Through Putin's war. Viva Ukraine!
You have our admiration.

Putin's forces must leave your country.
That should be the plan.
Free-world nations will do their best
To help you if they can.

People say that when we're creeps,
Karma's not our friend.
Hopefully, Trump and Vance
Will learn that in the end.

Sincerely,
Americans in favor of saving democracy

-by Bob B (3-3-25)

The world thrives on madness, I guess.
At least that's how it looks of late
As things spin out of control, and that's
Occurring at an alarming rate:

Mask mandates will save human lives,
Yet people resist with crazy notions;
Climate change deniers dismiss
The future threat of rising oceans;

Insurrectionists are seen
As “patriots” in the eyes of some;
Armageddon junkies keep
Messaging “Thy kingdom come”;

Far-right autocracies
And autocrats are on the rise;
People suspicious of reason and truth
Close their minds and lap up lies;

We’re seeing more grasping for power
And greater pursuits to suppress the vote;
Securing equal rights for all
Is becoming more remote;

People shun democracy
And favor personality cults;
Baseless attempts keep cropping up
To undermine election results;

Some people choose to rewrite history
And toss out facts they want to forget;
Xenophobia is rising
And immigrants are seen as a threat;

An ALL-about-ME-world seems to be
The world we’re living in at present;
Being nasty appears to be more
Admirable than being pleasant;

Insecure people yell "Cancel culture!"
When others attempt to expose the truth;
Racists keep using their biases,
Aversion, and hatred to poison our youth.

I once had faith in humanity
And tended to be more idealistic,
But with all this craziness,
It’s harder than hell to be optimistic.

-by Bob B (8-20-21)

Republicans, please stay out
Of women's uteruses, okay?
What EACH one does with her ******
Is something in which you have no say.

Another thing: While you're at it,
Please leave women's eggs alone.
Why turn people's bodies into
A stupid political combat zone?

Stay OUT of our bedrooms, and stop making
Our intimacy an issue for you.
It's as though you are unable
To find something better to do.

There are many important matters
That should be addressed. Oh, but no!
Instead, you are hung up on
What to do with an embryo.

Instead of obsessing about such things
As women's embryos and eggs,
Worry about yourselves and what
Happens between YOUR OWN legs!

-by Bob B (2-24-24)

D.T.:
"All of this impeachment talk
Is really getting on my nerves.
My strategy to thwart it doesn't
Get the attention it deserves.

"Let's see….What can I do?
Ah, yes! Create a distraction.
If I can start a war somewhere,
That would surely get a reaction!

"A war with China, North Korea,
Russia? No! Out of the question.
A messy war with Iran might do it.
Now THAT would be my best suggestion!

"I'll take out the number two
Person in the Iranian scene.
Then I'll get my staff to help me
Oil my propaganda machine.

"Bush succeeded in making up
Stories of weapons of mass destruction.
I'll convince my base at least,
For I'm an expert at seduction.

"We will say that Soleimani
Was a dangerous, imminent threat.
If Iran retaliates,
That is something they'll regret.

"So if hundreds of thousands die,
To me my plan has great appeal.
In any war there's bound to be
Collateral damage. No big deal.

"It's time for me to make a decision,
For we're approaching zero hour.
It's amazing what you can do
When you have tons of power.

"Impeachment talk will fade away
After I start my war with Iran.
But first I have to make a call
To see what Putin thinks of my plan."

-by Bob B (1-7-20)

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)

Have you ever heard of "dyscalculia"?
It's often the culprit in situations
When people have great difficulty
With mathematical calculations.

I guess it's common for some of us
To learn that math is not our domain,
But having dyscalculia implies
A certain miswiring within the brain.

I read in multiple languages,
But math has always been hard for me.
There was only ONE math class
I liked, and that was geometry.

But algebra class? No way! Forget it.
We didn't get along at all.
I took the required classes and passed,
But often it was a very close call.

Maybe some of us live on the spectrum
That goes all the way from mild to severe.
Fortunately, I didn't have to
Use heavy math throughout my career.

I've always loved to deal with words;
Languages I find exciting.
But word problems, fractions, numbers,
And calculations are uninviting.

Although I can handle simple math,
My trouble with major problems lingers.
But, shhh!, please don't tell anyone
That sometimes I still will count with my fingers.

-by Bob B (2-10-22)

Americans have made a decision.
Why did they decide
To put someone into office who
Will take them for a ride?

They elected a man so full
Of vengeance and desperation
That his campaign was principally
Lies and misinformation.

He pandered to the people's worries--
Worries that he created
By turning people against the folks
That he has deprecated.

He won't focus on key issues;
No, those he ignores.
He would rather perpetuate
Hateful culture wars.

Islamo-, trans-, and homophobia
Will now be on the rise
As players in Trump's administration
Begin to mobilize

Racist stooges surrounding him
Will always be in his ear,
Chipping away at human rights
And constantly stoking fear.

The deportation of immigrants
He says is first on his list
Of things to do, for he is such
A heartless nativist.

Loyalty above all else
Is what he always demands.
With autocrats all over the world,
He'll be shaking hands.

We’ve all seen that Trump's whole world
Is strictly quid pro quo.
With Elon Musk so tight with him,
Will Musk be running the show?

With no more guardrails to keep Trump in line,
He'll FURTHER disunite
Americans, and that will be
Much to Putin's delight.

I'm glad I wasn't complicit in choosing
One of the vilest of men
To take a seat in the Oval Office
And wreck the country again.

-by Bob B (11-13-24)

Utnapashtim, ancient in age,
Was paid a visit--which seemed quite odd--
From Ea, who thousands of years ago
Was a Sumerian water god.

The gods were angry with people on Earth.
As it turned out, the gripe that they had
Was simply because the humans were noisy
And NOT because they were evil or bad.

A god called Enlil suggested a flood.
It would be done, at his behest.
Once all that was over, he said,
The gods could get a good night's rest.

Ea told Utnapashtim to build
A giant boat. One of its features:
To be gigantic enough to hold
"The seed of ALL living creatures."

Utnapashtim finished his boat
Just before the rains began.
For six whole days and six whole nights
It rained nonstop, according to plan.

The only ones who survived the flood
Were those on Utnapashtim's boat.
Needless to say, they were all
Lucky that it had kept afloat.

The seventh day brought clear, calm weather.
A dove was released, but it soon returned.
Utnapashtim released a swallow.
When IT came back, too, he grew concerned.

"Hmmm," he thought. "Let's try a raven."
He sent forth a raven, and what do you know?
The raven did NOT return, for it
Had come across land. Way to go!

The huge boat came to rest upon
A mountaintop as waters receded.
All were relieved that the water god's
Urgent warnings had been heeded.

A god called Ishtar made the first
Rainbow appear across the sky
To serve as a promise of no more floods
And be a glory to meet the eye.

If you think that the story sounds
Familiar, well, you aren't alone.
The Israelites borrowed the story,
Changed it a bit, and made it their own.

-by Bob B (2-23-25)

(This poem could be sung to the melody of Stephen Sondheims's song "Giants in the Sky" from INTO THE WOODS.)

There's a virus going around!
There's a harmful, horrible virus going around!

When you wake each day,
And you hear the news,
And you'd like to think
That it's just a ruse--
That it's maybe a dream--
And so you refuse
To let it change your life.

Then you realize
That the dream is real,
And you learn that you
Simply can't conceal
The troubling facts
That the signs reveal.
You know…you must
Decide to place your trust
In people who don't put on airs.
Their message scares
Us because there's
A harmful, horrible virus going around--
A harmful, horrible virus. Oh, yes, that's what they've found.
And it is a threat
To both you and me.
Yet some people say
That they don't agree.
Though it creeps up close
And it doesn't make a sound,
It's all around.

If only we knew how
To fight it best.
One thing we know is
We can take a test.
But the president seems
To be so obsessed
With other matters, so…

Each state is stuck with
Figuring it out.
And you're out of luck
Unless you've got clout.
So you distance yourself
From others, no doubt.
And you wonder how
The delays came about.
But hey!…Just say,
"We can make this go away!"
But to find a path
Will not be a breeze.
We need expertise
In times like these.
Some say that our economy must come first.
If that is more important than lives, then we’re at our worst.
Yes, we have to work to live and thrive,
But to work a person must be alive.
There are some things that
Can or cannot be reversed.
It's all around.

There's a virus going around!
There's a harmful, horrible, awful, deadly, dangerous
Virus going around!

-by Bob B (5-13-20)

(Listen to Lin Manuel Miranda sing Sondheim's song on YouTube.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz-eZEcsvIk

While wandering through the forest one day
A lion chanced upon
What he hoped would be his dinner--
A young, injured fawn.

A bear approached who also had
The same idea in mind.
He was starving, for it had been
Some time since he had dined.

Both of them battled fiercely,
Clawing, scratching, biting.
Ultimately, the two became
Exhausted from the fighting.

They lay on the ground severely wounded
And trying to catch their breath,
Realizing how much effort
It took to fight to the death.

A fox had been observing the scene
From not too far away.
Jumping for joy, he said to himself,
"This is my lucky day!"

Too weak to move, the lion and bear
Watched in disbelief
While the fox ran off with fawn
In his mouth. The little thief!

The weary fighters agreed that they
Had been extremely unwise:
All that time they had spent fighting
And the fox ran off with the prize!

Moral? Some work very hard
And never receive acclaim,
While others receive the credit and profit.
What a rotten shame!

-by Bob B (8-26-21)

°An Aesop fable retold here in verse

As the world mourns the death of Alexei Navalny,
The truth of how he died won't be disclosed--
At least while Putin maintains an iron grip on the country,
For we all know he hates being opposed.

Beware of mourning in public if you live in Russia
Or if you demand the truth of Navalny's death.
Beware of consequences when your country is run
By someone who's as cruel as Lady Macbeth.

Russian penal colonies are far from pleasant,
But no one expects them to be comfy resorts.
However, couldn’t conditions at least be more humane?
Inmates end up in a torture chamber of sorts.

"Sudden death syndrome" is how Navalny died.
That's what we're told. Sounds suspicious, no?
That could run the gamut from colds or flu to ******.
However he died, his death was a horrible blow.

Beware if you go to Russia while Putin is in control,
For speaking your mind might be something you rue.
As long as the tyrant continues to have unlimited powers,
"Sudden death syndrome" could happen to you.

-by Bob B (2-18-24)

Look around and pay attention.
A scary movement is on the rise,
Which ultimately could turn this country
Into a fascist's paradise.

Christian nationalism is what
The movement is called, and what it's about
Is a merging of church and state
And turning this country inside out.

Christians, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus,
And everybody else beware.
You might like you current freedoms.
Christian nationalists don't care.

Infiltrating local, state,
And national government positions,
They're pushing their religious agenda
And pressuring other politicians.

Christianity's not the problem.
It's Christian fanatics who want to thrive.
They love the extreme ideas expressed
In Project 2025.

They want to quash the rights of gays,
Deny women the right to choose,
And reshape the federal government
With loyalists who share their views.

They're also weary of immigrants,
And climate change to them is fiction.
They claim to love this nation, but that's
A hypocritical contradiction.

Some even think that violence
Is justified to help them prevail.
It's almost as though they'd like to live
In Gilead of THE HANDMAID'S TALE.

If being agnostic can develop
By degrees, then I must say
That these religious extremists make me
More agnostic every day.

-by Bob B (7-8-24)

Hey, fellow Earthlings, if you dare
To come to America, be aware
That things aren't what they used to be.
It's grown quite scary, believe you me!

Even if you have permission to stay,
You have to watch what you do or say,
Or there could be a knock on your door,
And friends won't see you here anymore.

Consider this for a real treat:
Dissent and you'll be swept off the street
By people in masks, most likely from ICE,
And flown far away! Isn't that nice?

You ask, "Doesn't due process exist?"
NOT if you're on Donald Trump's list.
Our country is just like a country that
Is ruled by a vicious autocrat.

If you mind your p's and q's,
There is a chance you still could lose.
Regulations are dwindling fast,
And so your chances of dying are vast.

It COULD be from something that makes you sick,
A crash, or a shooter. Take your pick.
Medical research? Trump won't read it.
According to him, none of us need it.

Our national security
Has become an obscurity.
Other countries can trust us no longer.
While we grow weaker, Putin grows stronger.

Trump is chasing away our friends
Instead of choosing to make amends.
He loves our adversaries, of course,
Because he wants to rule by force.

Surrounded by folks who think he's swell,
He's making life in America hell.
Far from common sense he's strayed
And now is killing our tourist trade.

To be so hated, he seems contented,
As he grows more and more demented.
I have to wonder why anyone would
Want to come here if he or she could.

-by Bob B (3-27-25)

Halloween is approaching, and so
You'd better watch out for spooks.
Watch out for zombies and vampires and witches.
Most of all watch out for kooks.

Ghosts are out there hoping to scare you
And trying to put on the squeeze
For you to think that the COVID vaccine
Is worse than the disease.

They haunt the halls of Congress and make
Appearances anywhere,
Looking for innocent victims to
Intimidate or scare.

They don't mind Halloween masks
That might look gruesome or gory.
But wearing masks to save human lives?
That is a different story!

Once a zombie bites you, you
Join the walking dead,
Which shows how easy it is for mistrust
And ignorance to spread.

Vampires want to feast on the blood
Of truth that runs through your veins,
After that, your appetite
For blood is all that remains.

Witches know how to concoct a potion
To make you want to distrust
Our institutions, many of which
They want to see bite the dust.

Kooks are scary, for sometimes they
Are harder to recognize,
But once they open their mouths to speak,
You can hear their lies.

Though Halloween is a scary time,
Frankly, we have to fear
All of these kooks and zombies and such
Every day of the year.

-by Bob B (10-9-21)

Be the peace that you would like
To spread around the world and know
That it comes from deep within,
And when it's nurtured, it will grow.

Be the laughter you want to hear
Fill the air with glee and mirth.
Let its contagious sounds extend
To people everywhere on Earth.

Be the light that you want to see
Radiate both near and far.
Let it serve as a beacon of hope;
Let it be a guiding star.

Be the love that unites the world--
A love that's meaningful and real.
Let its radiance gloriously
Embrace all living things with zeal.

Be the antidote to anger.
Let compassion fill your heart,
For ill-will tries to overpower
Love and tear the world apart.

Be a person who always seeks
To make the world a better place.
Let your glowing smile be mirrored
On every other person's face.

-by Bob B (12-17-22)

Abraham was sitting around
Minding his very own business when
His Lord spoke to him. You see,
They talked every now and then.

"Take your son up into the hills.
I know a place that's really nice.
And don't forget your dagger, Abe.
I'm hungry for a sacrifice."

So ol' Abe grabbed his son--Isaac--
And off they went, minding the Lord.
I guess there wasn't enough going on
And so the Lord was getting bored.

Once Abe found the perfect spot,
He laid some sticks upon the ground.
He was going to sacrifice
His son there on that little mound.

Isaac lay upon the sticks,
Silently, without thrashing.
His dad was leaning over him.
In his hand his knife was flashing.

Isaac put two and two together.
(You wouldn't have to be that smart
To know your dad was just about
To plunge a knife into your heart.)

Suddenly, the Lord said "Whoa!
I was kidding. Put down that knife.
Abe, I didn't mean for you
To put an end to Isaac's life.

"I was merely testing you.
Sorry about the little scare.
The two of you can go back home
And wash out Isaac's underwear."

Abraham found a ram in a thicket--
Sadly, an unlucky one--
And offered his Lord some roasted ram--
That instead of roasted son.

It doesn't sound to me as though
Abraham's god was on the level.
If gods are willing to traumatize
Kids like that, who needs a devil?

-by Bob B (2-10-25)

A hurricane approaches--
One of the biggest we've seen--
And where's the president?
On the putting green.

Millions are preparing
For the storm to hit,
Still not knowing
What to make of it,

While the president
Spends his Labor Day
Hitting some ***** around,
Which, needless to say,

Is his typical manner
Of showing his great concern.
(Just to hear him speak
Makes one's stomach turn.

Here's a man who said
On the campaign trail
He wouldn't have time to golf.
Talk about a tale!)

Think back two years
To Hurricane Maria.
Trump thought he had
The perfect panacea:

Once in Puerto Rico,
Facing a weary crowd,
He tossed them paper towels.
Ah, he felt so proud!

His mindless hypocrisy
Is a tour de force.
I guess each faux pas
Is par for the course.

-by Bob B (9-2-19)

Our terms often overlap
And merge in different ways.
Attempts to see connections have us
Wandering through a maze.

Often we walk the path together;
At times we walk apart.
Does the heart shape truth, or does
Truth direct the heart?

Names are arbitrary, and our
Interpretations vary.
It's when they clash that circumstances
Move from sound to scary.

Sometimes we will go off course
Or stumble as we go.
As long as we can learn from our
Mistakes then we can grow.

Our path through life should constantly
Encourage us to seek
Answers that will penetrate
The depth of life's mystique.

Once the answer's clear to us,
We've reached a higher level.
Enlightenment then equates to God
And ignorance to the Devil.

-by Bob B (7-25-22)

Having survived a heart attack,
I find that I am now inclined
To always have a piercing question
That surfaces from the depths of my mind:

Could it--will it--happen again?
The question is a normal one
After such an experience,
Which definitely was NOT very fun.

When you had no warning signs,
It makes you even more uncertain.
If life's a stage, will Death decide
To stop the play and close the curtain?

Uncertainty is a part of life.
That's just the way it is, and so,
Instead of trying to fight it, I guess,
It's better to merely go with the flow.

In the meantime, what should I do?
Eat healthy foods, exercise,
Take my meds, avoid too much salt
And sugar and stress, and try to be wise.

Appreciating all that life
Has to offer before life ends,
I hope to share this appreciation
With family and all my friends.

Time waits for no one, they say.
It passes by us lickety-split.
Living is a special gift,
So make the optimal use of it.

-by Bob B (6-26-23)

“This happened because that happened.”
That’s what the Buddha is said to have said.
It permeates the thousands of pages
Of Buddhist writings that can be read.

Of course, people will probably say,
"That is neither profound nor sublime."
Ah, but the words are really both
Complex and simple at the same time.

It sounds as though we're talking about
Chain reactions or cause and effect.
The words can make a great deal of sense
When we view things in retrospect.

All the interconnected events
That brought us to this moment can be
Overwhelming, to say the least,
For there is so much that we cannot see.

Although we might not notice it,
Simple reactions occur this way:
You offer someone a genuine smile,
And maybe you made that person's day.

When we look at history
And how religions arose and grew,
Interconnections are much more complex
But clearly are at work there, too.

Viewing historical events
In depth can help us understand
Why things are the way they are
And how ideas get out of hand;

How the human ego works
And how human behavior evolved;
Why so many conflicts exist
And why so many remain unresolved.

The process of deeply examining
Ourselves and our world can open our eyes
To why we think in a certain fashion
And how to see through falsehoods and lies.

“This happened because that happened.”
Although we cannot erase the past,
We can alter the way we think
And then make positive changes that last.

-by Bob B (2-3-24)

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

D.T. from the White House balcony:

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (10-10-20)

Where are mental institutions
To help those in dire need?
Within our current societal framework,
We can see where their absence can lead.

Closing the doors of facilities
Has posed a problem--one that defeats
The very attempt to keep psychotic,
Insane people from wandering the streets.

I'm not talking "insane asylums"
Or "snake pits" by any means,
Such as the ones we've seen in the movies
Filled with unforgettable scenes.

No, I'm talking facilities where
Patients receive necessary
Psychiatric help, which can
Hopefully be temporary.

At least those who are dangerous to
Themselves or others would have a place
To access humanitarian aid.
It's a problem we have to face.

Money? Is it all about money
That taxpayers refuse to spend
To build the institutions that
Would help and protect us in the end?

Shame on us as a country if
We thoughtlessly choose to overlook
What could be a proper solution
Merely because of our pocketbook.

-by Bob B (5-12-22)

This body that I call my own
Is air, water, earth and fire.
The urge to be--to live, to persist--
Forms the basis of desire.

Manifesting in different forms--
Countless forms that I call "me"--
I'm like a river that flows through life
And longs to be at one with the sea.

I'm like a wave upon the ocean.
At times I whisper, but often I roar,
Especially when I move too close
To land and crash upon the shore.

My ****** form--shifting, amorphous--
Is constantly changing its shape, its form,
Similar to the clouds in the sky
That float, that tower, that wildly storm.

I'm one with the past and one with the future,
Immeasurable in time and space.
Since I am what I am, I
Can never truly be out of place.

I'm the range of human emotions:
Happiness, sadness, love, and fear.
At times I'm a vision that no one can see;
At times I'm the sound that no one can hear.

I am the stars; I am the mountains;
I am the wind; I am the rain.
There's never a reason to worry because
There's nothing to lose and nothing to gain.

I breathe along with the universe,
Imbibing its force with every breath,
Thus transcending mass and light,
Distance and time, life and death.

-by Bob B (12-15-22)

Where was all the election fraud
That Trump declared was going on
As he vigorously campaigned
And as his battle lines were drawn?

Oh, I see: fraud occurs
In the event he does not win,
For IF Republicans should lose,
Fraud's the story that they spin.

After a vicious, nasty campaign
Of stirring up fear and employing deceit,
Trump has won a second term
With help from his buddies on easy street.

Once he is in office again,
We will see an escalation
Of his being able to get his way
Through vengeance and intimidation.

He and his crony Elon Musk,
Who has become his partner in crime,
Are ramping up the threats already.
So here's a Trumpian nursery rhyme:

Donnie Trumpy, pudding and pie,
Wants his way or else he'll cry.
Watch him as he flouts our laws;
How much damage will he cause?

-by Bob B (12-19-24)

Some folks say that God is Love.
Oh, my goodness! Then sue me for libel!
He doesn't sound very loving to me--
The god that you find in the Christian Bible.

It's mainly the Old Testament god
Whose loving aspects are hard to find.
Watch out or he will harden your heart,
Give you boils, or make you go blind.

In fact, he is insanely jealous
And proud to be so, the writers say.
Even look at another god,
And there is going to be hell to pay.

He can be quite petty at times--
Indifferent as to whom he offends.
He doesn't want you to eat shellfish.
And what's his problem with cotton blends?

Very often he is unjust--
Sometimes for neither reason nor rhyme.
Work on the sabbath and you should be ******!
Does that punishment fit the crime?

An unforgiving control freak,
He wants to micromanage us all.
And woe to you if you disobey him.
Look what they say he did to Saul.

A bloodthirsty ethnic cleanser,
He's truly worthy of being reviled
For telling his people to plunder towns
And **** each woman, man, and child.

Misogynistic, homophobic,
And very vindictive if you say no.
From sacrifices to wars and slaughter,
He seems to love to see blood flow.

Megalomaniacal,
He longs for glory and applause.
Cower when you stand before
The great and mighty Wizard of Oz!

For those who are unfaithful, he says,
Unless their evil rebelliousness ceases,
They will fall by the sword and their
Children will be dashed to pieces.

He often derives sadistic pleasure
In hurting those who don't adhere
To his commands and who do not
Sing his praises and live in fear.

Fear of what? Of retribution.
If you don't believe in him,
He threatens eternal punishment.
I hope that hell at least has a gym.

He always seems to be mean and angry.
Look how he treated the Philistines.
Acting like a malignant bully,
He isn't loving by any means.

A very unpleasant character,
Instead of a help, he's more of a bother.
I wouldn't want someone like that
To even be considered my father.

If you don't believe me, then you
Should read the Bible and you will see
How God in the scriptures is not so loving
As people make him out to be.

-by Bob B (5-20-25)

Recently, Israelis rescued
Four hostages. People are thrilled.
But during the rescue, how many innocent
Palestinian civilians were killed?

The attack by Hamas on October 7
Was indeed an abomination,
And when a life is saved, that
Should be a cause for celebration.

But let's not lose sight of the huge loss
Of innocent lives since all this started.
It's hard to see what's happening
In Gaza and not feel broken-hearted.

What a shame that so many people
Are caught in between two warring factions
And suffer because of Hamas's attacks
And Netanyahu's revengeful reactions.

Reports vary as to how many
Civilians have died, but numbers are high--
More civilians than combatants,
But numbers are hard to verify.°

We must put pressure on BOTH sides
In order to make these numbers drop.
They have to put an end to this conflict.
All this killing has got to stop!

-by Bob B (6-12-24)

°The U.N. estimates more than 34,000 Palestinians in Gaza and more than 1,200 people in Israel have died in the war.

Watch out, childless cat ladies!
This is as crazy as it gets:
JD Vance says migrants who
Shouldn't be here are eating our pets.

Republicans continue to push
A giant disinformation campaign--
One that makes conscientious
People ask: "ARE THEY INSANE?"

Throwing spaghetti at the wall,
They say, "Whatever sticks will do"
And hope that with their tactics they
Can stir up fear in me and you.

If there's a way that they can create
A fear of immigrants, they will try it.
It's the old scapegoat idea
That they are pushing. They hope you'll buy it.

And many of these Republicans
Have taken their giant erasers out
In order to erase our past,
Cause confusion, and bring up doubt.

To rewrite history is their goal.
They want to ignore our racist past.
Historians are wrong, they say.
The truth is out, at long last.

Russian asset Tucker Carlson,
Embracing Holocaust deniers,
Is touring the country with JD Vance,
Spreading poison and looking for buyers.

They insists that the Holocaust
Was principally a Jewish hoax,
Created with the intention to
Defame white Christian folks!

Voters have to realize
How dangerous these nuts can be
And how with power in their hands
They're a threat to democracy.

-by Bob B (9-10-24)

After President Biden gave
His annual state of the union address,
Alabama's Senator Britt
Had some people to try to impress.

There she sat in the kitchen where
She gave her corny rebuttal speech,
Or maybe we should say that THAT's
The place from which she chose to preach.

She wanted Christian nationalists
To have a reason to rejoice,
And so she used what people call
Her sappy, "fundie° baby voice."

People who watched were flabbergasted.
There were Republicans as well
Who listened in disbelief and asked
One another "What the hell?"

Blaming all the nation's struggles
On President Biden, she showed her fixation
With following Trump's playbook regarding
Inflaming fears about immigration.

We later discover that some of her comments
Were really nothing but nasty lies.
Perhaps that's par for the course when there's
Someone or something to demonize.

Not to bear false witness is
One of the Ten Commandments. Aha!
Doesn't that mean that Senator Britt
Basically broke a religious law?

Oh, well! Hypocrisy
Is fine, I guess, for those who believe
That THEIR path is the ONLY path
And there are millions of folks to deceive.

-by Bob B (3-10-24)

°from "fundamentalist"

Trolls abound on the Internet,
Creeping out of the dark, like moles.
The ones who lurk on poetry sites
Are better known as poetry trolls.

Poetry trolls attack other poets
With their combative analyses.
Their belligerent behavior
Borders on what might be a disease.

They often feel compelled to respond,
As though they have to give their two cents.
The pat they give themselves on the back
Must be a form of recompense.

Offering nonconstructive comments
Is one of their central attributes.
They think they're being insightful, but
Instead, they come off sounding like brutes.

Nasty, vicious, they seem to thrive
On looking for folks to demean or attack.
It's almost as though these people are trying
To compensate for something they lack.

Are their lives so miserable,
Or are they so deeply insecure
That showing restraint in commenting
Is more than these poor souls can endure?

In dealing with these crazy people,
Frankly, you simply cannot go wrong
If you ignore their comments and dump them
Into the trash can where they belong.

-by Bob B (1-19-22)

One afternoon a wolf encountered
A lamb that had wandered away from its herd.
Normally, the wolf would devour
The lamb without saying a word.

However, this time he felt a little
Compunction for the little creature.
A feeling of compunction is not
Typically a wolflike feature.

And so the wolf decided that
On this occasion he would entreat it
To come up with a really good
Reason that he shouldn't eat it.

"A year ago you insulted me,"
Said the wolf, feigning scorn.
"That's impossible," said the little
Lamb, "for I had not yet been born."

"Well," said the wolf, "you eat from my pastures
As though you have been given a pass."
"Sorry," the timid lamb replied,
"But I still haven't tasted grass."

"Then certainly you drink from my stream,"
Continued the wolf. "That's what I think."
“But that's not true," the lamb declared.
"My mother's milk is all that I drink."

"Think of every possible reason;
I don't give a tinker's ****.
But I won't go without my dinner!"
The wolf cried out, and gulped down the lamb.

The moral? Tyrants can’t be trusted.
Don’t be fooled by what they say,
For they will use whatever excuse
They can in order to get their way.

-by Bob B (8-19-21)

°An Aesop fable retold here in verse

People often say what they wish,
And when they do, it's always nice
When speakers of English express themselves
In language that is clear and precise.

Presently, if you're somewhere else,
And I would rather have you near,
And if I were speaking with you on the phone,
I'd say, "I really wish you were here."

If, however, I speak of the past,
And my disappointment I wish to convey
Because you couldn't be where I was,
"I wish you had been there" is what I would say.

For "wish" situations, if present, think past:
"I wish I knew the method right now."
Here I am saying that if I were able
To demonstrate something, I'd show you how.

For past situations, think past perfect:
"I wish I had known the secret back then."
Whatever the secret was, this means
That I didn't know it way back when.

"I wish she were able to join us today."
"We wish we had a million bucks."
"I wish you had been at the game with us."
"He wishes he hadn't said, 'That *****!'"

When "wish" expressions are used with care
And modeled for others to hear and read,
We say exactly what we mean,
And that is marvelous indeed!

-by Bob B (6-11-24)

We read that Jesus was a Jew--
A Palestinian Jew.
He was a poor itinerant preacher
And far from well-to-do.

A Jewish god was thus, of course,
The one to whom he prayed.
Not all, but many Jewish laws
Were ones that he obeyed.

He walked around with twelve disciples--
Also Jewish men--
Who, I guess, were probably
Considered "born again."

The twelve disciples felt he was
The Jewish Messiah, though he
Wasn't exactly what most Jews
Thought the Messiah would be.

To them the Messiah would be a hero
Whose praises they would sing
For being both a peacemaker AND
A powerful, conquering king.

The Jewish Messiah was going to bring
Justice to the land.
The strong Jewish nation would then
Have the upper hand.

They thought that he'd restore the nation
To its former glory.
They needed a powerful leader who
Would fit in with their story.

How could Jesus be their Messiah--
A man so scorned and rejected?
He COULDN’T have been the Anointed One
Whom they had expected.

It really does seem quite ironic
And also very odd
How a rejected Jewish Messiah
Became a Christian god.

-by Bob B (1-12-25)

It's incomprehensible
What some people choose to believe.
And also extremely worrisome.
Maybe I’m a bit naïve,

But goodness gracious! I thought we
Human beings had progressed
Intellectually, but now
I am starting to feel depressed.

Deep state elites harvesting
Chemicals from babies’ blood…
A virus caused by the 5G network…
Do people really believe that crud?

That massive voter fraud had helped
President Biden to win the election…
That microchips have been implanted
In your COVID vaccine injection…

That COVID was intentional,
Created in a lab…That’s mad!
That the assault on the Capitol
Was staged to make Trump look bad…

It’s almost as though reason and madness
Are balancing on a teeter-totter.
What's happening to rational thought?
Is "crazy” in the drinking water?

-by Bob B (1-28-21)

Strongman Trump has pardoned his thugs.
All along that was his plan.
It's hard to contain one's disgust for such
A vile, shameless, malevolent man.

The thugs had stormed the Capitol.
Because of them, people are dead.
They weren't tourists spreading their love
As Trump in their defense has said.

Many were violent criminals:
Seditious conspirators--bold and proud--
Along with vicious cop assaulters.
Malicious vandals were there in the crowd.

We know that Trump has always had
The lowest standards for pardons ever.
Have we ever seen such a horrible
Abuse of the pardon power? Never!

Clemency for all these thugs?
He's just appealing to his base.
He says it's far too cumbersome
To study the matter case by case.

If any thugs want tours of the Capitol,
Lauren Boebert is taking calls.
Maybe they can show her where
They wiped their feces on the walls.

We hear that Trump has also invited
Some to the White House. Wouldn't you say
That THAT is a slap in the face to the injured
Officers who were there that day?

Strongmen pardon supporters who will
Perpetrate violence on their behalf.
"He thumbed his nose at democracy"
Should ONE day be Trump's epitaph.

-by Bob B (1-23-25)

(This poem is dedicated to all the kids in the world who are deprived of the love they so desperately need.)

My heart goes out to the kids in the world
Who deal with unbearable grief--
Whose treatment by their loveless parents
Is cruel beyond belief.

My heart goes out to the kids in the world
Whose folks don't comprehend
Or care how their heartless behavior hurts
Their children in the end.

My heart goes out to the kids in the world
Whose lives are bleak and austere--
Who, rather than live with endless pain,
Would rather disappear.

My heart goes out to the kids in the world
Whose parents have no right
To even claim that role for themselves
When filled with so much spite.

My heart goes out to the kids in the world
Who struggle and suffer alone--
Who have to endure such misery
Through no fault of their own.

My heart goes out to the kids in the world
Who sadly unlike me
Have parents who didn't provide them with
Love and security.

My heart goes out the kids in the world
When I see what they've missed
By having parents whose hearts are stone,
And, yes, they do exist.

My heart goes out to the kids in the world;
I wonder what it will take
For much more loving kindness to thrive
And fewer hearts to ache.

-by Bob B (2-9-22)

The Cult of Trump does NOT want all
Americans to vote UNLESS
They cast their vote for a certain person.
Who do you think that could be? GUESS!

WHAT they're saying is IF Trump doesn't
Win the election this fall, by God!
That means the whole election was rigged
Because of rampant voter fraud!

There's NO evidence whatsoever
Of massive voter fraud, and yet
Trumplicans are spreading the lie
That it is a major threat.

Immigrants who happen to be
Undocumented, they say,
Are registering to vote in hordes.
That's NOT occurring, by the way.

Spreading such vile misinformation
Is devious and downright wrong.
And yet election deniers continue
To keep on singing the same old song.

Now they're saying that President Biden
Is encouraging people to vote
Who aren't American citizens!
Another lie they want to promote.

Sowing distrust in our elections
Is one of their underhanded goals:
Jim Crow-era strategies
To keep Americans from the polls.

When people have to cheat to win,
Have they no decency? Have they no shame?
How sad for the country to see so many
People playing the Lying Game!

-by Bob B (9-5-24)

Californians, continue to be
Water wise, or water smart.
We can save our precious commodity
If all of us will do our part.

"But what do you mean?" some people ask.
"What--pray tell--are you talking about?"
Certainly, you've noticed that
We're in the midst of a multi-year drought.

Water, water everywhere?
Not right now; levels are low.
Many places are desperate for
Much more rain and winter snow.

"But I've been saving water," you say.
If that's the case, then good for you.
But ask yourself, "Now, is there
Anything else that I can do?"

Even shorter showers maybe;
Make that part of your routine.
Low-flush toilets also help,
And fewer loads in the washing machine.

When brushing your teeth, washing dishes,
Or shaving don't let the water run
And run. Only use what you need.
That, dear friends, is rule number one.

Droughts have always occurred, of course.
And too much water can be a curse.
But weather extremes are happening,
For climate change is making things worse.

We MUST explore more ways to capture
And save the water that we get.
Would we benefit from having
Greater water storage? You bet!

Just be aware of water usage;
Unnecessary usage must stop.
Bear in mind that we cannot
Afford to waste a single drop.

-by Bob B (7-10-21)

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along," by Harry Woods)

Oh, as the bug we're dreading keeps
Spread…spread…spreading around…around,
We should keep on trying to
Stop supplying a breeding ground.
Just get…just get…
Just get your shot.
A big…a big…
Big risk it's not.
Here's some…here's some…
Some food for thought:
You'll…be…better protected.

Now it's Omicron;
When will it be gone?
No one knows.
New mutations will
Cause frustrations, and
So it goes.
Let’s do our best to stay
Healthy, and so I say,
Be safe and sound,
As the bug we're dreading keeps
Spread…spread…spreading around.

-by Bob B (1-26-22)

Far-right extremists have made
A film to promote their crusade.
It's just a stupid series
Of conspiracy theories.
So far from the truth they have strayed!

It's frightfully scary how some
Could do something that is so dumb.
Immune to reproaches,
Just like creepy roaches,
From out of the woodwork they come.

-by Bob B (5-10-20)

Because COVID-19 is spreading
Rapidly around the globe,
Much to my dismay, I am
Becoming a major germophobe!

Taking care of groceries now
Takes a good part of the day.
I have to disinfect every
Item before I put it away.

Handles? Yes, I have to clean them--
On cabinets and on chests of drawers.
And all over the house I have to
Disinfect the knobs on the doors.

Remote controls? Telephones?
They all get the treatment, too.
My cell phone's probably crawling with bugs.
I hate to think what's on each shoe.

When going to the store, I say to myself,
"Be careful about all that you touch."
And what about the shopping cart?
This is getting to be too much!

My wallet? My money? My credit cards?
All of them might be harboring germs.
Where can we find a germ-free surface?
Is THAT a contradiction in terms?

Everything now is a major process--
A step-by-step procedure to rid
Everything we touch of the virus.
But really, whom are we trying to kid?

What about airborne droplets
Of COVID-19? Another worry.
If anyone near me sneezes or coughs,
I try to get away in a hurry.

When I come home, do I have to
Change my clothes just in case?
I almost need to tie down my hands
In order to keep from touching my face!

At gas station pumps, at ATMs,
The sneaky virus could also be lurking.
Should I wear a mask in public?
Many feel that masks are working.

No handshakes, kisses, or hugs, for I
Must keep a safe distance from all.
My hand sanitizer should have
A large amount of alcohol.

Alcohol? Hmmm. If it
Can **** the virus, could I be
Safe if I drink daily martinis?
Would that keep me virus-free?

Wishful thinking, I guess. I'll have to
Be mindful of every move that I make.
I'd MUCH rather be safe than sorry;
It's good to be cautious for everyone's sake.

-by Bob B (4-1-20)

D.T.

THIS playbook chapter is
Extremely vital for maintaining
Competitive advantages
When you happen to be campaigning.

Create chaos--the more, the better.
That is one of my winning solutions.
Sow discord and make supporters
Distrust the country's institutions.

Get supporters riled up.
That's NOT a difficult thing to do.
Violence is fine--just be
Certain it's not directed at you.

To rile up people, you have to lie.
Lying is the name of the game.
You can make a lasting impression
If you're crafty and have no shame.

Avoid the discussion of policies
Or real solutions, as much as you can.
Merely say that you will fix
The country because you have a plan.

Develop the art of name calling
And bad-mouthing; THOSE are the kinds
Of things you can do to make distaste
Stick in your supporters' minds.

Make the people fearful of others;
Then your fans will stand by your side.
They won't even know that they're
Being taken for a ride.

Draw support from every extremist
Group that's out there if you can--
Militant groups, nativists,
Christian nationalists, the ****.

Try to get support from "friends"
In other countries. You can get
Tons of help as they spread lies
All across the Internet.

Don't let accurate information
Regarding your health and mental state
Get into the hands of the public.
My favorite word is obfuscate!

Being "nice" just doesn't cut it;
Be as obnoxious as you can be.
You DON"T want folks to think you're weak.
Rudeness is great; take it from me.

So if you want to win an election,
You merely have to follow my lead.
Remember: if you lose the race,
Never, never, never concede.

-by Bob B (10-15-24)

It's hard to believe it, but now it's official.
I've reached an important milestone today:
I am now a septuagenarian.
I can't help saying, "Hip hip hooray!"

It's not that being this old is so great,
But what I mean--and that's no jive--
Is how it beats the alternative.
Although I'm older, I'm still alive!

Alive and well; so far, so good.
I'm not ready to take my last bow,
Kick the bucket, or give up the ghost.
What is important? To live in the now.

Many friends and relatives didn't
Make it this far, which is sad.
Our times together make up some of
The fondest memories that I've had.

Life with all its exigencies
Can at times be overly demanding.
But knowing that life is impermanent
Is vital to our understanding.

Our bodies are like a river or stream--
Constantly flowing, constantly changing.
And, yes, when we advance in years,
We often need some rearranging.

Sixty was nice, but frankly the word
"Seventy" gently rolls off the tongue.
There are languages still to be learned,
Books to be read, songs to be sung.

I've been lucky all these years.
No, I really can't complain.
I'm ready to make a toast to life,
So pop the cork and pour the champagne!

-by Bob B (8-15-49)

Among the many biblical myths,
My favorite is the story
Of Noah and his ark, which is
A borrowed allegory. 🤔

It's fun to imagine how Noah could manage
To fit into his boat
Two of every 8 million species
And keep his boat afloat. 🤣

There are folks around the world
Who have long insisted
That Noah and that gigantic ark
Actually existed. 😮

Somebody built a "replica,"
And people find it ducky
To visit it at the Ark Encounter
In the state of Kentucky. 🤪

Tour guides take groups to Turkey
To look for the ark each year.
If people spend their money on that,
One thing's crystal clear:

They are surely being fleeced.
Maybe they don't mind it.
But they should forget about seeking the ark,
For they ain’t gonna find it. 😉

-by Bob B (2-14-25)

DJT:
Oh, look and you'll see that the Chosen One's me.
I just know I'll prevail 'cause my base does what I say.
Regulations must go, and my critics will see
That my tax returns will never see the light of day.
And I'll protect the rights that I've kept in my sights:
Breaks for the wealthy and more favors for whites.
I'll defy any who criticize my ways,
For I crave people's respect, and I want tons of praise.

Oh, look at me now and at all that I've done.
All the fake news won't say just how popular I've been.
Oh, worldwide I'm loved; they say I'm number one.
What's the problem if I make a few bucks now and then?
The emoluments clause is one of those laws,
That only restricts and is loaded with flaws.
I'll defy any who criticize my ways,
For I crave people's respect, and I want tons of praise.

You can call me a star; better yet, if you please,
You can call me your king, but the Second Coming's fine.
Just the thought gives me bliss, makes me weak at the knees.
I will do what I want; I think power's so divine.
So to boost my campaign, no way will I refrain
From making some calls to get help from Ukraine.
I'll defy any who criticize my ways,
For I crave people's respect, and I want tons of praise.

I might lie, cheat, and steal if they are a must.
My power's not up for grabs, and to keep it I must fight.
I will strive to defend all the rich upper crust.
I will sabotage all congressional oversight.
I'll create so much fear and I'll be so severe
That immigrants won't even dare to come here.
I'll defy any who criticize my ways,
For I crave people's respect, and I want tons of praise.

-by Bob B (9-24-19)

If I were the president,
Would it really be okay
To go after my opponents
By weaponizing the DOJ?

If I said that I'd shut down
Papers or networks reporting news
That made me feel uncomfortable
Because they criticized my views;

Or that I'd want to terminate
Parts of the U.S. Constitution;
Or that certain peoples are
Animals, or gene pollution;

Or that I'd use the military
Against American citizens here;
Wouldn't you agree that my
Ideas would be cruelly severe?

What if I said that there would be
A bloodbath after the fall elections;
That my political enemies
Would be locked up per my directions;

That I would want to execute
Former joint chiefs of staff
(Of course, I'd let appointed henchmen
Do it all on my behalf);

Or that I wished my generals
Would be much more like ******'s? Say what?
Then wouldn't you find my message
To be alarmingly clear-cut?

I'd be called a fascist--yes,
If all of the above were true.
And since Trump has promised it all,
He would have to be one, too.

When people say he doesn't sound
At all like a fascist, I'm thunderstruck.
If something walks and flies and quacks
And looks like a duck, it's a duck!

-by Bob B (10-24-24)

The highest court in Arizona,
Stuck in 1864,
Just dug up an abortion ruling
Written during the Civil War.

Amazingly, the seven judges
Must have found a time machine,
And no, this is not a film
We're watching on the giant screen.

The law banning nearly all
Abortions was a barricade
To women's right to choose until
It was blocked by Roe v. Wade.

Reflecting the times, the law exposes
Feelings that were deeply rooted.
Physicians who assisted women
Could easily be prosecuted.

Hmmm. I wonder where the court's
Time machine will take them next.
Will they soon unearth another
Old, antiquated text?

Republicans who might agree
With what the court is doing, now
Are scaling back their rhetoric
In hopes that they'll squeak through somehow.

All who champion women's rights
Should honestly be mortified.
Choosing to favor the court's decision
Should be political suicide.

Fortunately, a lot of folks
Who've heard the news are having fits.
Take out your sledgehammers
And smash that time machine to bits!

-by Bob B (4-11-24)

It's funny how the followers
Of one religion often find
The myths of their religion as real
And true and easy to get behind,

While the myths of other religions
To them are merely stories, fiction,
Implausible beliefs, and they
Express their feelings with great conviction.

Oftentimes the god or gods
Of someone else's religion become
Devils or evil forces to certain
Believers. A case of zero sum.

It's also odd how many believers
Profess that their beliefs are strong--
That followers of other religions
Are in the dark, deluded, wrong.

In other words, they insist
That their religious point of view
Tops all others, as though they're saying,
"What's good for ME is good for YOU."

I resent it when anyone
Tries to make it his or her goal
To tell me what I should believe
And then attempts to "save my soul."

I also resent it when legislators
Use the pulpit to make our laws
And very conveniently ignore
The fact that such a process has flaws.

"Be a light unto yourself."
Beware of any religion that smothers
The truth, deceitfully pressuring us
To blindly follow the path of others.

-by Bob B (2-20-24)

Socrates, the professor cat,
Loves to teach and lecture.
Whether he gets his point across
Is sometimes merely conjecture.

When left alone for a period of time,
He'll meet you at the front door
Where he will greet you on your return
And also give you what for.

"Excuse me," he says in his feline way,
"But you would be obtuse
If you failed to see that your actions
Border on cat abuse.

"Yes, we're independent, BUT
Frankly, my dear, you seem
To want to exploit our autonomy
By taking it to the extreme."

He lectures for quite a while, for he
Wants you to do your best
When the time approaches for you
To take another test.

"You know we value promptness," he adds,
"And I don't mean to be rude,
But when our dinner is not on time,
We're NOT in a very good mood.

"Research, you know, is vital and your
Failure to study impedes
A total understanding of what
Constitutes our needs."

He constantly tries to teach you patience
And thinks your dedication
To knowing his mind for both of you
Is a win-win situation.

If you misplace something, such as
Your watch, your keys, or a ring,
He'll stare at you as if to say,
"Oh, you poor, poor thing."

When you're frazzled, his calm demeanor
Implies that you at least
Would benefit from the study of ancient
Wisdom of the East.

He likes to observe from afar as you
Go about your activities,
Ever watchful to see if you are
Developing harmful proclivities.

At other times he just sits back
To see how much you've learned
And tries to silently calculate
How much praise you've earned.

If he desires a tasty treat
And thinks that you're withholding
Something from him, you'd better watch out:
You'll be getting a scolding.

Admonishingly, he says, "Do NOT
Think my methods nefarious,
It's just that learning broadens your being.
Take it from THIS Sagittarius."

You think you're one step ahead of him--
At least so you assume.
But Socrates will let you know
Who is teaching whom.

-by Bob B (2-16-20)

Trump has no idea as to
How to debate. That's NO surprise.
He merely bombards his opponent with
A litany of foolish lies.

Lie after lie shoots out of his mouth.
How does he do it with no chagrin?
Attempts to address his many untruths
Has one wondering where to begin.

January 6? He lied.
Immigration? He lied again.
Roe v Wade? Another lie.
Do your job, CNN.

For moderators of Trump's debates,
I'd like to offer a little suggestion:
Stop him when he rambles on
And say, "Mr. Trump, answer the question!"

Getting him to make any sense
Was difficult, to say the least.
His fans who eat up his lies with gusto
Were offered that night a real feast.

He blamed the failure to call the National
Guard on Nancy Pelosi! How rude!
How dare he cast the blame on her
For his own ineptitude!

That Democrats think women's choice
Should be determined by each state?
The truth for Trump is meaningless--
Only something to desecrate.

It's really hard to imagine how
American voters would desire
To have a president in office
Who's such a pathological liar.

-by Bob B (7-1-24)