The president has hammered away
Constantly--year after year--
At major attempts to instill in the people
An overwhelming sense of fear.

Asylum seekers and immigrants
Pose a threat--one that's severe--
And terrorists are swarming across
Our border, he's said, instilling fear.

The free press is our enemy,
He's often said, making it clear
That he thinks he can score more points
By making the people live in fear.

The Democrats are after your guns,
He says whenever he has someone's ear,
Trying to make the people more
Insecure by stoking fear.

You in the suburbs had better beware:
The way of life to which you adhere
Is under attack, he says, as riff-raff
Slowly move in. Once again: fear.

Voter fraud is rampant, he says,
Making a non-issue appear
To be a major problem and hoping
To win again through lies and fear.

The Dems are socialists, he says,
Destroying us. Another smear.
He hopes that he can win more votes
By making up stories and stirring up fear.

The Deep State is out to get him,
He says, trying to profiteer
From making himself a martyr and hoping
To add to his base of voters through fear.

And now his people say liberals
Are arming themselves as the election draws near
To wreak havoc in case he wins.
Another unjustifiable fear.

Such are the ways of an autocrat.
If we want to be sincere,
That he could win four more years
Should be our REAL cause of fear.

-by Bob B (9-15-20)

I happened to see the Easter Bunny
On my way to Nowhere.
I asked him how he was. He said,
“You don’t want to go there.

“COVID-19, I have to say,
Is making me feel blue.
We can’t have our Easter egg hunts!
What’s a rabbit to do?

“I’m going to have to stay at home
And wallow, I’m afraid,
In jelly beans and chocolate
And watch ‘Easter Parade.’

“My Easter feast has been cancelled.
We have to “meet” on Zoom.
I’ll be celebrating while
Sitting in my room.

“I hope people were safe when buying
Easter goodies this year.
Better safe than sorry,” he added,
Wiping away a tear.

Keeping our distance and wearing our masks,
We chatted a very short while.
He said, “It’s weird: all these masks.
You CAN’T see others smile.”

Since he was in a bit of a hurry,
I said, “Old friend, stay well.”
I thought that he was smiling, but frankly,
It was hard to tell.

-by Bob B (4-12-20)

Some folks think that God is Love--
A concept that is much revered;
Other people say that he's
An elderly man with a long, white beard.

Some say he is strict and vengeful,
Ready to banish sinners to hell;
Others say he is merciful,
Unless you are an infidel.

There are many people on Earth
Who believe that gods are many;
There are also people on Earth
Who don't believe that there are any.

Many monotheistic people
Firmly believe that God had a son.
They reconcile their one-God view
By saying the TWO are really ONE.

The gods of polytheistic folks
Also have offspring--babies galore.
When you believe in multiple gods,
There is always room for more.

Some folks say God's NOT a he,
But maybe a she or even an it;
And many say you MUST believe
Or end up In a fiery pit.

Some believe that God is Nature,
Which boils down to THAT which IS.
Then should Nature's hand towel be
Marked with "ITS" or "HERS" or "HIS"?

Some believe that God's impatient,
Too demanding, and quick to condemn;
And there are those who truly believe
That God communicates with them.

Those who "talk" to God are not
Necessarily addle-pated;
But those who say God talks to them
Maybe should be medicated.

Some say that their sacred scriptures
Prove their god or gods exist.
Of course, all those writings prove
Nothing to an atheist.

No one knows for sure if God
Is or isn't a human invention.
The best we can do is say God is
Beyond our human comprehension.

-by Bob B (9-13-24)

Allah, Jehovah, Brahma, Zeus…
They're all the same to me
And represent humankind's
Quest to find a key--

A key that will unlock the door
To what can't be explained
And hopefully confirm that seekers'
Hopes can be sustained.

People search for meaning that
Transcends the commonplace
Within this giant universe
Of particles and space.

Some say that instead of looking
Outward, search within.
To search for deeper truths, that is
A good place to begin.

And if we think we have the answer,
We should not forget
That other folks with different answers
Should not be a threat.

Ultimately, if we do
Or don't see eye to eye,
Frankly, none if it will truly
Matter when we die.

-by Bob B (2-1-24)

No good deed goes unpunished.
I'm sure you've heard that saying before.
You'll find that when people attack you unfairly,
A good reputation is hard to restore.

No matter how hard you work to help
People in dire situations,
There will be folks with an ax to grind
To slam you with lies and accusations.

To push their agenda, they will do
Their best to drag your name through the mud.
Their cunning insinuations will make
It clear that they are out for blood.

You can have the best credentials,
The greatest intentions, a shining career,
Yet some will find a baseless reason
To make you an easy target to smear.

You can put your trust in experts
To gather and hand out expert advice,
And yet the cut-throat carpers will try
To tear you apart without thinking twice.

We see this happen on Capitol Hill
Where such maligners are not hard to find.
A shameless, obnoxious political hack
From the state of Kentucky comes to mind.

Far too many bloodthirsty frauds
Seek noble people to demonize.
We have to rely on a knowing public
To see through the vicious and unfounded lies.

-by Bob B (1-12-22)

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)

(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.)

When things are looking bleak and your
Polling numbers are way too low,
Apply underhanded tactics
To vanquish your political foe.

Slowly dismantle the postal system.
Make the problem acutely systemic
By making it harder for people to vote,
Especially during a deadly pandemic.

Attack the system of voting by mail
By making it seem as though it's flawed.
Make your fans believe that it opens
The door to rampant voter fraud.

If TV stations run political
Ads that you don't like, subdue them.
Go after the smaller stations
In certain states. Simply sue them.

Force intelligence agencies
To bend the truth whenever you can.
Get the DOJ to help you
Muddy the waters: a perfect plan.

Continue to seek foreign help
To harm your opponent. Feel no chagrin.
And then stifle investigations--
Anything to help you win.

Say that the system is rigged against you
So that your fans will feel disgusted,
And then if you lose the November election,
Election results will NOT be trusted.

To hide your gross incompetence,
Sow the seeds of doubt and blame.
Get support from sycophants
In Congress--from those who have no shame.

Flout the rules and do whatever
You can to make your critics squirm.
Following all these beautiful tactics
Will help you secure a second term.

-by Bob B (8-12-20)

Vandalizing people’s Teslas
Is wrong, terribly wrong,
Even though Musk sticks his nose
Where it doesn’t belong.

Instead, protest at dealerships
With messages loud and clear:
We are sick of Musk's involvement,
And we will persevere.

Trump has given him carte blanche
To ravage our country. We need
To stop these onslaughts on agencies
Because of far-right greed.

DOGE--Department of Greed and Evil--
Has gained access to
Personal records. Think of all
The damage it could do!

The little DOGE whippersnappers
Are also going after
Non-federal agencies!
This is no cause for laughter!

All the damage that they are doing
Is going to be hard to fix.
While people suffer, the president
And Musk are getting their kicks.

Find a protest nearest you.
Let your voice be heard.
Fight to save democracy,
And meanwhile spread the word.

-by Bob B (4-1-25)

Hey, everybody! Just in case
You thought I was going away…WRONG!
There is so much more I want
To do before I say, "So long!"

I'm sure by now you know my name.
Some people call me Mr. C.--
The "C" being short for Coronavirus.
You must have seen me on TV.

I'm a social kind of guy.
Where there are crowds, I can be found.
You can do your best to ignore me
And act as though I'm not around,

But I rely on your assistance,
Whether you want to meet me or not.
I can easily find you if
You want me to. Give it a shot.

I like traveling around the world--
From country to country and city to city.
If I go before you get
The chance to meet me, more's the pity.

"Look what you have done to our
Economy," people say.
Economies, borders, age groups, gender:
I let nothing get in my way.

My meetings with some are quite protracted;
With some the encounter is short and sweet.
Excuse me now, for I must go.
I've got many more people to meet.

-by Bob B (7-24-20)

So, Amy Coney Barrett,
As Trump's newest recruit
To sit on America's highest court,
"Blessed be the Fruit."°

You shine through the Republicans'
Hypocrisy, and we
Must bite our tongues as we are forced
To answer with "Praise be."°

Your past opinions show how you
Could easily undermine
Individual rights, for there
Is SO much on the line.

Clear responses to the senators'
Questions were so sparse
That your confirmation hearing
Was a total farce.

It's also very obvious
That your suspicious connections
Will throw into question our
Free and fair elections.

The illusion of majority rule
Is slowly being eroded,
As justice for Americans
Has become corroded.

How long until there's pressure to
Replace the word "Goodbye"
With the cold and threatening
Expression "Under His eye"?°

-by Bob B (10-16-20)

°Sayings used in the dystopian society of "The Handmaid's Tale"

(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…se 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)

(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.)

Continue to weep, America.
Our days of glory appear to have passed.
In the eyes of other countries our once-
Respected status is dwindling fast.

Certainly, we were never perfect;
However, despite our many flaws,
At least our former presidents
Cared about us and honored our laws.

What has happened, America?
What has gone so horribly wrong?
Was our democratic system
Meant to disintegrate all along?

How can democracy be so weak
For a conman to rapidly turn it around
As he destroys our institutions?
Was our foundation so unsound?

Look around, America.
"Land of the free" has become a joke.
Our beautiful and "spacious skies"
Are now filled with ashes and smoke.

"Sweet land of liberty"? No, no more.
Come to seek asylum and you
Will end up being thrown in a cage
Or turned away with a callous "Adieu!"

Look through the lies, America,
That flow down from the one at the top--
From him who demands daily attention
To spread his dangerous agitprop,

Which is backed by his cohorts in Congress.
Shame on all of them. Shame! Shame!
They've sacrificed their integrity
To support the One-Whom-We-Mustn't-Name.

Perhaps there's hope, America.
Even though the line has been crossed,
Maybe there is a chance that we
Can still regain all that we've lost.

-by Bob B (9-26-20)

We know that Santa has been distraught.
For years he's watched as the climate has changed.
People who say that it's not a problem
Are, in his words, slightly deranged.

Now he has an additional worry:
The worldwide spread of COVID-19.
He says that people who lie to the public
About the virus are downright obscene.

"It makes no sense," he said with a sigh,
"NOT to be more realistic
About acknowledging what works.
The answer is relatively simplistic.

"Mask-wearing happens to be
A proven means to keep us from harm.
The vaccine's metaphorically
And literally a shot in the arm.

"The elves and Mrs. Claus and I
Have gotten our COVID boosters, and so
While conditions were bad last year,
This year I've been raring to go.

"But now there's yet ANOTHER variant.
Omicron they call it, and I
Fear that as the virus spreads,
More people are going to die.

"It really hurts me when politicians--
Who ought to be talking more about giving--
Say instead that there are some
Things that are more important than living!"

Wiping a tear from his eye, he added,
"You know, something is truly amiss
When people embrace false information.
Ignorance isn't always bliss.

"For a better, more compassionate world,
And especially for the sake of our youth,
My wish is that more and more
People will take stock in the truth."

He paused for a moment, then he asked,
"Do you think it would be too shocking
If I placed a COVID test
In everybody's Christmas stocking?"

He stood there quietly, deep in thought.
I said good-bye and took my leave.
Hmmm. I wonder what ol' Santa
Has in mind for Christmas Eve.

-by Bob B (12-3-21)

What are we but flames brightly burning?
Conditions coincide, and then voilà!
Our gusto that we have for life--our yearning--
Discloses all those moments filled with awe.

What are we but waves upon the shore?
Merging with the constant ebb and flow
Of life until our presence is no more,
As back into the beckoning sea we go.

What are we but dewdrops on a rose,
Glistening in the gentle morning sun?
We can ask, but Nature won't disclose
Where we disappear to one by one.

Consoling thoughts and words appease us now,
But once we've reconnected with our source,
We become expressed in Nature's Vow
To merge us with the universal force.

-by Bob B (8-13-20)

-R v. W and Kansas-

SCOTUS! Oh, my: what a sham!
And boy, are we in a jam!
The ruling it made
On Roe versus Wade
Sets us back fifty years. ****!

With their extremist mentality,
They THINK they're defending morality.
They merely show
What we all know:
That they're out of touch with reality.

The people of Kansas decided
That they will not be misguided.
Women won't lose
Their right to choose,
For reason and sense have presided.

-China-

China is rattling its saber
And hurling more threats at its neighbor.
Taiwan be free?
That just can't be:
A point China loves to belabor.

-Brittney Griner-

Brittney Griner has learned
How easy it is to get burned
In Putin's domain--
A scary terrain.
We all want Griner returned!

Let Russia be struck from your list
Of places to visit. The gist?
People's small actions
Are major infractions,
For justice there doesn't exist.

-by Bob B (8-4-22)

(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.)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (3-20-23)

(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.)

Do people tell you that you have
An RBF by any chance,
And when you're in their company,
You find that many look askance?

Having such a face might not
In the long run be so bad.
People just aren't sure if you
Are happy, bored, upset, or mad.

In fact, with an RBF,
Your ****** skin needs much less care
Because with fewer smiles or frowns,
Your face shows fewer signs of wear.

Our happy, smiling, laughing, frowning,
Or scowling faces can, I guess,
Have an expressive look right now
But soon become a wrinkled mess.

You've surely heard of Bette Davis,
The actress of the stage and screen.
When it comes to RBFs,
People say she was the queen.

Some don't like the expression at all.
When they hear it, ooh, they lose it.
That's why I, of course, must say
That I would never, ever use it.

-by Bob B (9-8-22)

°Resting ***** face

(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.)

When the day is murky
And clouds obstruct the sun,
I look for shining moments
Before the day is done.
I know it often seems
The clouds are here to stay.
Still, I hope a rainbow
Will brighten up my day.

I trust that at some point
I won't be wondering when
The gloomy clouds will leave us
And the sun will shine again.
Call it optimism
Or my naïveté,
But I still seek a rainbow
To brighten up my day.

The stormy clouds create
A harsh reality
And make the silver linings
Difficult to see.
Do not be disheartened
By what nay-sayers say.
You might see a rainbow
To brighten up your day.

I know we have to take
The bitter with the sweet.
A setback here or there
Doesn't mean defeat.
Just hang on to hope
And don't be led astray.
You will find that rainbow
To brighten up your day.

-by Bob B (3-26-20)

You'd think that we'd be better informed
Here in this modern age of technology,
But many people have tossed out reason
And seem to have more faith in mythology.

With access to so much information
To gather, absorb, and analyze,
People are careless, and as a result,
Stupidity is on the rise.

There is a growing suspicion of science
And credible experts and a general mistrust
Of education and research, which makes
Concerned people feel nonplussed.

Misinformation travels so fast
Across the internet, where it's devoured
By millions of people, who couldn't care less
That that's how demagogues are empowered.

Moreover, foreign internet trolls
Love to jump in and stir the ***.
They feed the readers innuendos
And lies until the culprits get caught.

And people jump on the bandwagon
To readily believe what they read.
Their power of discernment seems
To be lacking. At least, it's NOT up to speed.

Add to that hate radio
And internet sites with farfetched news.
As more and more people buy into such nonsense,
Ultimately, we all lose.

Myths and fantasies have their place,
As long as people recognize that.
But when good judgment and reason come calling,
Let's ALL put out the welcome mat.

-by Bob B (9-7-21)

I'm SO tired--so VERY tired--
Of what the Right is doing.
I'm tired of crooked strategies--
The nonsense always brewing.

We haven't even voted yet,
And yet they're planning cases
To fight upcoming election results
In courts in various places.

They've GLOMMED onto some far-right lies
Of rampant voter fraud;
Their talk of voter integrity
Is merely a façade.

They feel that there is no way that
Trump can be defeated
In a major election unless
Thousands of voters cheated!

Their baseless allegations show
Their sorry desperation.
May one more nail go into their coffins
With every accusation!

-by Bob B (9-29-24)

This is NOT the time to give up.
To throw in the cards wouldn't be wise.
In order to save our democracy,
People, we've got to mobilize!

Medicare and social security:
Watch them fade before your eyes.
Protect the benefits we have earned.
People, we've got to mobilize!

People's rights are being threatened.
Discrimination is on the rise.
The wolf is knocking on the door.
People, we've got to mobilize!

****** autonomy
Of women is threatened by those who devise
Draconian laws that are killing mothers.
People, we've got to mobilize!

Our health will be in serious danger
By those who want to legitimize
Wild and crazy conspiracy theories.
People, we've got to mobilize!

Look at the suffering that's caused
By lawmakers who demonize
Our immigrant community.
People, we've got to mobilize!

Yes, at times there is too much
Over which to agonize,
So vote, march, write, make calls!
People, we've got to mobilize!

You feel the cards are stacked against you?
Remember: keep your eyes on the prize.
They will try to beat you down.
People, we've got to mobilize!

-by Bob B (11-21-24)

Policies have repercussions.
Take family separation--
A policy that's practiced by
The Donald Trump administration.

We separated families
Here in the good ol' USA
As a form of punishment
For refuge seekers wanting to stay.

After two and a half years,
Eleven hundred kids remain
Separated from their parents!
Such a practice is insane!

While the government's explanations
Have been untruthful, vague, and distorted,
Five hundred forty-five
Of the kids' parents have been deported.

Lawyers have been seeking the parents.
Imagine the effort the search would entail.
Up to now the monumental
Task has been to no avail.

Separation is bad enough.
But with inadequate record-keeping?
We've sown the seeds of heartlessness;
Look at what we now are reaping.

The policy has been a disaster.
Who could not describe it thus?
Such an ugly picture it paints;
And what does such cruelty say about us?

One could look for an ounce of compassion
Within Trump's heart, but it's no use.
What we've seen is basically
Government-sanctioned child abuse.

-by Bob B (10-21-20)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (1-6-22)

(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.)

A message to the POTUS...

Do not tell me while thousands of people
Are dying each week, that you see an end
To what has been a devastating
Pandemic. What? We're rounding the bend?

Do not tell me that just because
You survived COVID-19
With mild symptoms, that you have the right
To push your propaganda machine.

Do not tell me how much you care
About the American people when
All your super-spreader events
Endanger lives again and again.

Do not tell me how proud you are
Of all you've done to fight the virus.
The people know the truth of the matter,
And all of your lies continue to tire us.

Do not tell me that you know more
Than credible experts and choose instead
To listen to someone who spoke on Fox News,
Merely because you liked what he said.

Do not tell me that you can't see
The damage you've done by failing to act.
All your efforts to hide the truth
Exacerbated the danger, in fact.

Do not tell me that I should be willing
To risk my life and then wish me well--
That I'll help save the economy.
Frankly, you can go to hell.

-by Bob B (10-27-20)

I’m a tiny virus;
Corona is my name.
I love stealthiness.
That's my claim to fame.

If you would prefer,
You could call me Mister.
How’d you like to meet
My brother and my sister?

It’s really very easy.
They are all around--
Sometimes in the air;
Sometimes on the ground.

We like it when you gather
Together in large groups.
That’s when we decide
To call out all our troops.

We rely on people
To let down their guard.
For some careless ones,
That’s NOT very hard.

If you want to meet us,
Look for crowded places,
Where there aren’t a lot
Of masks on people’s faces.

Of course, you know that our
Ubiquity demands
That people everywhere
Do not wash their hands.

We really love it when
People do not pay
Attention to the experts
Or let them have their say.

Spreading conspiracy theories
Helps you to meet us
And drowns out the voices
Of those out to defeat us.

We rely on leaders
With questionable goals
And people who believe them
And frown on safe controls.

I hate it when I hear
The ugly word "vaccine."
How could people be
So thoughtless and so mean?

I won't make it easy
For those who want me dead,
For MY raison d'être
Is "Spread, Baby, Spread!"

-by Bob B (5-16-20)

We humans love to speculate,
And many have contended
That they are certain what happens after
Their current life has ended.

Some people think we'll find our reward,
And we'll forever dwell
In paradise, unless we go
The other direction--to hell.

Some believe in purgatory--
A type of stop-off station.
In order to proceed we must
Undergo purgation.

Some insist that we return
To Earth as another being--
That each person's past lives have
Shaped the person we're seeing.

Some might call it consciousness
That undergoes a rebirth.
Others say that heaven and hell
Both exist on Earth.

Some trust that our spirit continues
To live in a type of suspension
Until we can be freed from that
Parallel dimension.

Some people feel that we will all
Cross to the "other Shore,"
Returning to the essence of what
We were once before.

Some conclude that this is it,
So live life while you can,
For we are just a part of Nature's
Vast, infinite plan.

We can believe whatever we want.
That's fine, I suppose.
But what happens after this life ends?
Frankly, no one knows.

-by Bob B (9-28-20)

The Ten Commandments on public buildings?
How does that not violate
Our Founding Fathers yearning for
The separation of church and state?

Still it's occurring across the country
In numerous states by folks who demand
That Christianity, of course,
Be blatantly given the upper hand.

Condemn such in-your-face proposals.
Religious freedom it is not.
It's ignoring the Constitution
Through a crafty religious plot.

And charging American taxpayers
To fund our country's religious schools?
It violates the First Amendment,
Thus breaking established rules.

The Ten Commandments? Then why not post
Muslim and Buddhist precepts that dwell
Within the hearts of many folks,
And lines from the Bhagavad-Gita as well?

And speaking of the Ten Commandments,
By the way--yes, the sum of them--
We have watched with no surprise
As Trump has broken every one of them.°

-by Bob B (4-4-25)

°Even killing? Consider how many people have died because of his disastrous policies and responses to public health crises.

At a campaign rally,
Trying to be Mr. Hot,
Trump said HE'LL protect women
Whether they like it or not.

Protect women? Hmmm.
Eight years ago we heard
Trump disparaging women.
Every salacious word!

In dealing with women, he said,
Your stardom's easy to flaunt.
Grab their private parts
And do whatever you want.

Has he protected women
Who died from lack of care
Due to abortion bans
Cropping up everywhere?

How about when he was
A predator on the loose
And faces allegations
Of ****** abuse?

I can't imagine women
Wanting Trump's "protection"
Or EVEN casting a vote
For him in any election.

-by Bob B  (11-3-24)

Yes, it has been in the news
And from reliable sources, too.
For some people it's all about
The worship of money and revenue.

Certain Trumplicans maintain
That some of us are really dispensable
And ought to sacrifice our lives.
Such ideas are reprehensible!

They say that we who are up there in age
Ought to do our part to save
The world by going to work every day,
Even though it could mean the grave.

By working during the current pandemic,
We can keep the economy going.
Never mind the lives that are lost;
Just keep that money flowing.

"Come on, Grandpa and Grandma," they say,
"Do this for your grandkids now.
They will love your noble gesture."
And then they bow to their sacred cow.

Money over human lives:
That's what this is all about.
If you think that's a good idea,
Then go to work, but count me out!

-by Bob B (3-29-20)

If you served in the military,
I hope you don't expect to receive
Praise and respect from Donald Trump--
For some, I know it's hard to believe--

If your plane's shot down by your foe
And you become a prisoner of war,
Or if you die on the field of battle.
If so, to Trump, you'll be a bore.

President Bone Spur much prefers
Soldiers who--and this is his thought--
Come home intact from having served
And those, of course, who never got caught.

Visiting a cemetery
To pay respects--to honor the dead--
Is senseless to him, for such a place
Is "filled with losers," the callous man said.

"Suckers" and "losers" are what he calls them--
Those who fought and didn't survive.
To him service and sacrifice
Mean nothing unless you stay alive.

The man is such a hypocrite!
His comments are truly unprecedented.
Do his heartless words reflect
His cruel nature, or is he demented?

-by Bob B (9-4-20)

All over America
Injustices are rapidly mounting
As Trumplicans keep looking for ways
To keep every vote from counting.

Democracy is under attack.
What's more, this ugly ballot rejection
Is shamefully occurring right
Smack in the middle of our election!

Early voting has already started,
And yet they continue to change the rules,
Claiming possible voter fraud.
Deception's one of their devious tools.

Throwing out ballots due to petty
Issues is one of their favorite ploys.
Limiting mail-in ballots is
Also a scheme that adds to their joys.

Crippling the U.S. postal system:
Another strategy that will be
Making their efforts to throw out votes
A self-fulfilling prophecy.

The unfair tactics hit minority
Communities especially hard
By limiting opportunities.
Another reason to be on our guard.

And then we have a president
Constantly misleading his base.
He lies about the current system
Of voting and does it with a straight face!

And all of this voter suppression occurs
While a COVID pandemic rages.
We have observed a chipping away
Of democratic values in stages.

How sad it is, America,
That what's going on truly appears
To brazenly discredit a system
That's worked quite well for many years!

-by Bob B (10-30-20)

Growing old probably has
Advantages. Yes? Perhaps.
Although it makes me a little nervous
When I have a memory lapse.

We should grow wiser, shouldn't we?
Wisdom comes with age, they say.
Tomorrow then I hope to be
Much wiser than I am today.

One thing that's certain is these days
I spend more time than I did in the past
At doctor appointments and funerals.
And NOW time passes by so fast!

Though I'm able to read in English,
German, French, Italian, Spanish,
And also a little Norwegian, how much
Longer until my synapses vanish?

It's said that playing an instrument
And learning languages helps the brain.
I hope so, yet it seems that I
Forget much more than I retain!

If in October you ask me about
A book I finished in September,
I can say I read it, but that's
About all that I can remember.

But reading itself is such a pleasure
That when I read a book and then
Forget the details completely, I know
That I can always read it again.

Was it that long ago that I
Was trim and I could jog and dance?
My jogging/dancing days are over,
And now my tummy hangs over my pants.

But walking's something I can do.
I can walk for miles at a time,
Even though I'd hardly say
That currently I'm in my prime.

Every day should be an adventure,
For life's marvels are manifold.
Don't let anything stop you--not even
A little thing like growing old.

-by Bob B (3-6-20)

If you care about our friends,
Sound the alarm and spread the word:
Do not let your hummingbird feeder
**** your visiting hummingbird.

What a pleasure it is to watch
The little critters hover and dip
And dart and dash and land on our feeders,
Looking for sweet nectar to sip!

Enjoying their daily visits, we want
To offer help to our little pals.
But if we're negligent, we might
Be killing the little guys and gals.

The nectar in your feeder must
Be changed every five days or so.
Otherwise, the birds could die.
This is very important to know.

If a fungus grows in the nectar,
There will be a complication:
The birds will sip it, their tongues will swell,
And then they'll die of cruel starvation.

I don't mean to make you depressed
Or increase your apprehensions,
But sometimes human beings can cause
Harm despite our best intentions.

-by Bob B (1-16-20)

To wear, or not to wear a mask. The question:
Whether we wear a mask and stay protected
From possible contraction of a virus,
Or NOT and have to face the unexpected.

And if we thus throw caution to the wind,
Endangering the lives of those around us,
We will find the consequences costly.
The sad and dire statistics will astound us.

When we question what the experts say
And let ourselves be fooled by sly deceivers,
Then we end up on a wild pursuit
With other dazed conspiracy believers.

Confounded when some leaders give reports
That artfully confuse the truth with lies,
We MUST rely on facts that keep us from
Performing actions that would be unwise.

Experts say if we do not act now,
Later we'll experience regret.
It's not about just saving our own skin,
But other people's lives, lest we forget.

I don't think I'm wrong to say that life
Is something that most people value most.
Therefore, I reiterate that I
Am not so keen on giving up the ghost.

When we see behavior that is careless,
We should know to sound a loud alarm.
Some folks out there do not stop to think
How their recklessness is causing harm.

To wear a mask, of course, is not a pleasure;
For now it's just a necessary task.
But getting folks to wear one: that's the rub.
But tell me: is it way too much to ask?

Spread the word: oh, please put on your mask!

-by Bob B (5-26-20)

Irony of ironies.
Tell me: have you taken a peek
At Donald Trump's proclamation--
The one for Character Counts Week?

It refers to integrity
And personal responsibility.
It emphasizes honor and virtue,
Moral character, love, and civility--

All wonderful qualities.
But something here just doesn't fit:
The proclamation clearly drives home
The fact that he's a hypocrite.

He speaks of compassion and understanding
And acts as though he's standing beside us.
However, instead of uniting us,
His vitriol and lies divide us.

His hatefulness has caused so much
Suffering, both here and abroad.
It doesn't take a lot of effort
To recognize that he's a fraud.

The words of the proclamation are fine
And point out worthy aspirations--
That grateful hearts will serve as a "beacon
Of hope for future generations."

But how can anybody trust him?
He can woo us with flowery speeches,
But we can see that HERE Donald Trump
Doesn't practice what he preaches.

-by Bob B (10-19-20)

How can we ignore what happened
On THIS dark day four years ago?
Let us paint it as though it were
Depicted in the style of Van Gogh:

The painting must show emotional depth
To clearly demonstrate its sadness.
The brush strokes, wide and wild,
Should display the utter madness.

To show the anger--not love--apply
Thick and intense globs of red,
Which will also represent
Brutality and blood that was shed.

Apply bright streaks of yellow color
To focus on the cowardly thugs--
There as insurrectionists
And NOT there to pass out hugs.

The Capitol should be depicted
From different angles. That represents
All the absurd conspiracy theories
Believed by all the malcontents.

The paint? Of course, make sure it's thick
To show the thickness of the lies
That Trump and his supporters have told
To make us NOT believe our eyes.

Swirling strokes should indicate
A stark but vivid intensity
Of violence, for which Trump's mobs
Have a scary propensity.

The composition should guide the viewers'
Eyes to see the overall truth--
And NOT to be taken in by those
With tactics questionable and uncouth.

Now stand back; observe our painting.
We must never ever let
The horrors of that day become
A bagatelle that we forget.

-by Bob B (1-6-25)

This is the tale of the gumyocho bird.
It had two heads, which would suggest
That IF two heads are better than one,
The gumyocho bird should have been blessed.

But it had two personalities.
Each head thought it was always right,
And so, as you can surely surmise,
The bird's two heads would constantly fight.

One day while one head was asleep,
The other head, an herbivore,
Feasted on luscious fruits and flowers
Until its stomach could take no more.

When the other head woke up,
Its body was feeling indigestion.
Food sounded good, but it was so full
That eating was certainly out of the question.

The head--so angry, resentful, and bitter--
Planned to get even, but not being shrewd,
When hungry again, it slyly led
The other head to some poisonous food.

The head then ate its fill with gusto.
You can imagine what happened next.
Since the two heads shared one body,
No one should be surprised or perplexed.

Before dying, the vengeful head
Realized the mistake it had made
And hoped a compassionate buddha would feel
Pity for it and come to its aid.

Transported to an awakened realm,
The bird tells its story for our sake,
To help us see the repercussions
That come from decisions that all of us make.

Listen to the gumyocho bird.
It has a relevant story to tell:
When we’re hurtful to other people,
We're hurtful to ourselves as well.

-by Bob B (11-24-24)

There is a member of Congress--
His name is Andrew Clyde--
Who in January
Was barricaded inside

The chambers of the House
While thugs were yelling "****,"
As they stormed the building--
The one called Capitol Hill.

We've seen camera footage
Of the despicable scene,
Which will remain in the annals
As one of the worst days we've seen.

Mr. Clyde, however,
Now has a different spin
On what happened that day.
What a mess we are in!

Tourists paying a visit:
That's what they really were,
Mr. Clyde now says.
And many colleagues concur

That they were there to take photos,
Not to storm the halls.
So is it normal for tourists
To **** and wipe crap on the walls?

Is it tourist behavior
To brutally beat the police
Who were defending officials
And trying to keep the peace?

Do tourists normally break
Into buildings? No, correction!
Call it what is was:
A violent insurrection

By people perpetuating
Not the truth but a lie.
Many people were injured,
And some had to die.

Liz Cheney reminds us--
Acting as the town crier--
If we ignore the truth,
We merely embolden the liar.

Orwell warned us how
Scary it will be
When people are told what to think
And lose the right to be free--

When one is told to distrust
What one sees and hears,
Rejecting evidence of
Both the eyes and ears.

-by Bob B (5-18-21)

Death--a relentless stalker--
Never leaves us alone
Until he once and for all
Makes us one of his own.

We think that we elude him.
Although our defenses are weak,
We try to play a fruitless
Game of hide and seek.

He knows every refuge--
Every hiding place--
And hates it when we spurn
His unwelcome embrace.

"Death, be gone!" we say.
"For you I have no use.
Your never-ending threats
Are nothing but abuse."

"Can't you see," says he,
"That I’m determinative?
Only because of me
Are you able to live."

Lurking in the shadows,
He hopes that we'll forget
To heed our inner warnings
Acknowledging him as a threat.

His efforts to cajole us
Into succumbing are steady.
He demands our compliance
Whether or not we're ready.

When he takes our hand,
The best that we can do
Is stare him down and say,
"I'm not afraid of you!"

-by Bob B (1-2-20)

When I wear my mask,
It feels like a disguise.
If I smile, I hope that you
Can see it in my eyes.
I admit a mask
Is not so fun to wear.
And if it makes me look a little
Dorky, I don’t care.

I know my mask is not
Foolproof, but I suppose
It’ll keep some viral droplets
Out of my mouth and nose.
And when I take it off
At any time or place,
What I have to tell myself is
“Do not touch your face!”

Trying to keep my sanity and stay alive,
I’m hoping a vaccine will soon arrive.

My designer masks
Are really quite unique.
But frankly, I won’t go so far
To say that I look chic.
Who would have guessed?
What a crazy year!
Ten months ago I never thought
About protective gear.

We all know, of course,
Pandemics are not fun.
All the repercussions touch
Each and everyone.
But we do not know
All that might ensue
If we do not carry out
The things we ought to do.

Trying to keep my sanity and stay alive,
I’m hoping a vaccine will soon arrive.

If scientists create
A new vaccine, then we
Also have to wonder how
Effective it will be.
But I look forward to
A lovely future day
When I can leave my masks off and
Can put them all away.

Trying to keep my sanity and stay alive,
I’m hoping a vaccine will soon arrive.

-by Bob B (5-10-20)

Mike Pence paid a visit
To the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota.
Does the man have any sense?
Apparently, not one iota.

Everyone else around him was wearing
A mask, but oh, no, not he.
And he is supposed to be leading the COVID-
Nineteen task force. What a VP!

He said he wanted to thank people
By looking at them right in the eye.
He can't do that while wearing a mask?
His reasoning's hard to justify.

If eye contact while wearing protection
Is hard for him, then we should ask
If someone could PLEASE show the man
How to properly wear a mask!

He also stood very close to others.
Does the man not understand
What social distancing means? I guess
He lives in Michael's Wonderland.

Or does he think that God will protect him
From getting the virus because of prayer?
God would probably think, "Fool!
I had masks made for you to wear!"

Leaders ought to lead by example.
Sadly, Trump and his admin would rather
Provide us with mixed messages
And lies as on and on they blather.

-by Bob B (4-29-20)

When Santa returned to the slushy North Pole--
Effects of global warming, you see--
He sat down in his old recliner,
Sighed, and muttered, "Oh, dear me."

Mrs. Claus--who had been in bed--
Entered the room and felt distressed
To see her hubby in such a state--
So disconsolate and depressed.

She offered to make him a cup of hot coffee--
Something that Santa would never refuse--
As he wrote lyrics to what he called
"The Merry Little Christmas Blues":°

"I don't like what's happening to Christmas;
It's just not the same.
It's now so
Commercial that it's such a shame.

"I don't like what's happening to Christmas;
Gone are peace and joy.
I now fear
For every little girl and boy.

"Wars rage on bringing suffering
All around the world. So sad.
Many folks follow autocrats.
Oh, I think the world's gone mad.

"If the people will not say good-bye to
Hatred, war, and greed,
I fear that compassion cannot intercede.
Compassion's what all people in the world need."

That's what Santa sang to the missus,
And she--poor lady--started to cry.
Santa then repeated two stanzas
While gently wiping a tear from his eye.

"Wars rage on bringing suffering
All around the world. So sad.
Many folks follow autocrats.
Oh, I think the world's gone mad.

"If the people will not say good-bye to
Hatred, war, and greed,
I fear that compassion cannot intercede.
Compassion's what all people in the world need."

"I'm sorry, my dear," said Mrs. Claus,
"But your sad song is making me weep.
You have had a busy night.
Go lie down and get some sleep."

-by Bob B (12-28-24)

°Santa wrote his lyrics to a blues version of the melody to "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."

Hey! Coronavirus here.
Again, please call me Mr. C.
I am planning to hang around
And be your holiday VIP.

You know how I like big crowds,
And this, I say, is worth repeating:
Halloween is finally here,
And I'll be out there trick-or-treating.

It really disappoints me when
People impose gathering bans.
The president appears to be
One of my most supportive fans.

I've already visited
The White House grounds. An easy task--
Mainly because I love it when
People do not wear a mask.

I get around quite easily;
Misinformation helps me thrive.
Notice that I'm breaking records.
Aww, come on and give me five.

Some think that denying my presence
Will stop me from seeking out my hosts.
That's about as effective as
Building bonfires to ward off ghosts.

If you don't bump into me
On All Saints' Eve, or Halloween,
Other holidays soon follow.
I CAN'T resist a party scene.

Excuse me, but I have to go;
I have a lot of work to do.
Maybe I'll see you on Halloween night
When I sneak up and shout out, "Boo!"

-by Bob B (10-29-20)

Russian attacks in Ukraine are taking
Such a humanitarian toll
As Putin tries to pull the Russian
People down his rabbit hole.

A "military operation"
Is what he calls it. The words are his.
It's actually an invasion, a war.
Call it what it REALLY is.

But if you live in Russia and say
The truth, your words will be contested.
Call the move an invasion and you
Will very likely be arrested.

In Ukraine, residential
Sections of cities are under attack.
By bombing civilians, Putin hopes
The country's spirit soon will crack.

Even though Ukrainian
Resistance under attack is stunning,
Civilians know that it's run or die,
And oftentimes they're killed while running.

They say that 1.7 million
Ukrainian refugees have fled.
That seems a better option than staying
And being counted among the dead.

The breadbasket of Europe, Ukraine
Provides many countries with wheat.
Now because of the Russian invasion,
There's going to be less for people to eat.

Unhinged Putin has his plan
And won't let anything get in the way.
But wars have many consequences,
And war criminals should pay.

-by Bob B (3-8-22)

(This poem could be sung to the melody of Cole Porter's song "You're the Top" from ANYTHING GOES.)

The fear's gigantic;
I'm getting frantic.
Although it MIGHT make some folks squirm,
My thoughts about this are really firm:
There can't be a second term.
It's worth repeating;
I'm not retreating,
For I know there's a lot at stake.
And if my ramble
Is worth the gamble,
I can't help saying
Which choice I'd make.

He's a mess.
He's a real loser.
He's a mess.
He's a sunken cruiser.
He's a song that goes on and on; who knows how long?
He's a rotten apple,
A rusty scapple,
A deal gone wrong.

He's a car
That has lost its power.
He's a jar
Full of food that's sour.
He's a popped balloon, a sick cartoon, and yes,
You can't help but see how truly
He's a mess!

He's a mess.
He is Batman's Joker.
He's a grade--
Worse than mediocre.
He's a cloudy day that's so cold and gray in spring.
He is Putin's BFF,
Hannibal Lecter's chef,
A ding-a-ling!

He's the score
Of the team that's losing.
He's a joke
That is not amusing.
So much separates the candidates. I'll stress:
One should NEVER vote for Trump 'cause
He's a mess!

-by Bob B (10-19-24)

Watch our mob boss president
Take an axe to democracy,
Bringing us another step closer
To what we'd call an autocracy.

Calling on AG Barr for help,
Trump shockingly intends
To put the Department of Justice to use
To harm his opponents and help his friends.

Trump has been politicizing
The DOJ for quite some time.
If you thought he was bad before,
Well, now he is in his prime.

Watch our spineless Senators
Turn their heads and look askance
As Trump defies the rule of law
And does his banana republic dance.

Career officials are resigning;
They can't take it any longer:
Watching Trump retaliate
And seek out ways to make himself stronger.

Woe to us if we can't stop
This maniac who's out of control.
Has America lost its will?
Has America lost its soul?

-by Bob B (2-12-20)

"I can't breathe!" said a handcuffed man
Lying on the ground, trying to explain
That HE COULDN'T BREATHE! Sadly his words,
Falling on deaf ears, were said in vain.

"I can't breathe!" he said to the cop
Who had him on the ground to keep him in check.
"I can't breathe!" he told him again,
While the cop pressed his knee against his neck.

"I can't breathe!" said the man accused
Of possibly passing a counterfeit bill.
"I can't breathe!" For seven long minutes
The man repeated those words that chill.

"I can't breathe!": words reminiscent
Of Eric Garner's death in twenty fourteen.
"I can't breathe!" should have sent a signal
To others, but why did no one intervene?

"I can't breathe!" George Floyd's words
Were caught on video by someone firsthand.
"I can't breathe!" What about those words
For some of our police is hard to understand?

"I'm about to die!" the suspect added.
Will more black men suffer the same fate?
Finally, the cop removed his knee
From George Floyd's neck, but it was too late.

-by Bob B (5-28-20)

Trump is causing chaos again--
Something for which we'll ALL pay the price:
He's revving up his strong-man-ordered,
Police-state-tactic raids by ICE.°

To add to the chaos, he's calling on
The National Guard to get involved.
He thinks that all he has to do
Is send in the Guard and problem solved.

Going into places of work
And yanking people off the streets,
ICE agents want Trump to be
Proud of their autocratic feats.

When we are shouting civil rights,
Trump doesn't care if there's abuse.
He merely wants to find more ways
To flex his muscle. Any excuse!

We will have a police state where
We live in fear if we allow
ICE to continue its cruel tactics.
We have to PEACEFULLY protest now!

-by Bob B (6-8-25)

°Immigration and Customs Enforcement

Are you perchance a favor-seeker?
Come on in and join the scores
Of those who want a favor from Trump.
You scratch his back; he'll scratch yours.

Looking for a federal contract?
Wear a MAGA baseball cap
And patronize the president.
See what suddenly lands in your lap.

Perhaps you want an ambassadorship
Or some sort of advisory role.
If so, then be a loyal donor
And maybe you'll achieve your goal.

One day you might need a favor.
If you and Trump are somehow aligned,
He will gladly come to your aid
In case you have a pardon in mind.

You'll gain from your relationship,
And Trump will gain from your support
As you pour hundreds of thousands of dollars
Into a Trump hotel or resort.

What do you need? Laws, funding,
Land, appointments, or maybe directives?
Just send money in Trump's direction
And you can easily meet your objectives.

Is it a myth that he's a successful
Businessman--one of those bosses
Who shine in the business world? If so,
Then why is he constantly racking up losses?

Ah, but Trump has found a way
To redefine the expression "to drain."
In HIS case it means to use
The Office for financial gain.

His promise was to "drain the swamp."
At least, that's how he tried to present it.
But has he really? Not at all.
All he's done is reinvent it.

-by Bob B (10-12-20)

I want to see beyond the mountains,
Know what's hiding deep in the sea,
And survey the fascinating features
Of the human heart's topography.

We can scale the towering peaks
So we can see what lies beyond,
And we can probe the ocean’s depths
To understand that giant pond.

The human heart's more problematic;
So many secrets are hidden deep.
At times its depths are hard to fathom,
Its self-protective walls too steep.

We must always keep on searching
And NOT assume that we comprehend
All that can be known, for knowledge
Has no boundaries, no end.

If going beyond our human knowledge
We tap into the Absolute,
Imagine the bliss of suddenly seeing
A transformed being taking root!

-by Bob B (5-17-20)