I'll be a broken record;
I'll be a pesky fly
And keep asking questions--
Keep asking, "WHY?"

WHY, after thousands of shootings,
Are we still having fights
Interpreting our nebulous
Second Amendment rights?

WHY are we constantly told
That there's simply no way
To loosen the very tight grip
Of the intransigent NRA?

WHY do some believe
That fewer will be harmed
Or killed by a violent miscreant
If MORE Americans are armed?

WHY don't gun owners find
That fine-tuning the laws
To protect ALL Americans
Is a worthy cause?

WHY does it fall on deaf ears
Whenever the public demands
Ways to keep our guns
Out of the wrong hands?

WHY does it seem to be only
In America that we find
This love affair with guns--
Where guns are so enshrined?

Until we see some changes
And answers to questions WHY,
I'll be a broken record;
I'll be a pesky fly.

- by Bob B

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)

(Can be sung to the tune of Frank Sinatra's version of "Strangers in the Night")

Impeachment’s in the air.
Just look around.
People everywhere
Can hear the sound
Of justice coming forth
In Washington, D.C.

Investigations must
Keep on advancing.
Watch as Donald Trump
Keeps on dancing.
Yet we all know there
Is no guarantee.

Impeachments in the air, and Trump has lost it.
Impeachments in the air.
Up to now we have put up with a lot,
But now we're NOT.
"It's politics!" some will shout,
But principle's what it's about.

When more become aware
Of Trump's obstruction,
They will not declare
It's a production
And say that it's not fair.
Impeachment's in the air.

…
"It's politics!" some will shout,
But principle's what it's about.

Congress, if you care,
Then don't be snooty.
Please do not despair.
Just do your duty.
That's his cross to bear.
Impeachment's in the air.

La, la, la, la, la…

-by Bob B (4-23-19)

Trump's recent nominee--
Jefferson Beauregard Sessions--
Has been confirmed by the Senate,
Despite the man's horrid impressions.

Rejected in 1986
To serve as a federal judge for being
Racist, Sessions is now AG!°
It's hard to believe what we are seeing.

Having been a loyal promoter
Of Trump's agenda all along,
Sessions is now in a perfect position
To add more verses to Trump's song.

Good-by to police accountability;
Good-by to voting rights as well.
Compassionate immigration reform
Will probably be shot to hell.

LGBT rights and protections
Will also continue to dwindle away,
For Sessions' reputation leans
Toward being anti-gay.

His strong stance against civil
And equal rights is revealing.
It will be sad to watch America
Deepen wounds that should be healing.

by Bob B (2-9-17)

°Attorney General

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "Back in the Saddle Again" by Gene Autry and Ray Whitley.)

So Trump's been indicted again.
Let's give a shout out: Amen!
Well, he thought he was immune,
And it happened none too soon.
Yes, Trump's been indicted again.

He'll now look for someone to blame.
To him it is all just a game.
A classified doc to him
Should be dealt with on a whim.
Yes, Trump's been indicted again.

Oh, the rule of law
Sticks in Donald's craw.
Yes, Trump's been indicted again.
If he's guilty, he
Should not go free.
Yes, Trump's been indicted again.

Oh, when will the guy ever learn?
Do bad, and bad will return.
He'll try to fire up his base,
But it WON'T help out his case.
Yes, Trump's been indicted again.

And who's going to stand by his side?
His lying will not save his hide.
His arguments are hollow.
More trials will surely follow.
Yes, Trump's been indicted again.

Oh, the rule of law
Sticks in Donald's craw.
Yes, Trump's been indicted again.
If he's guilty, he
Should not go free.
Yes, Trump's been indicted again.

-by Bob B (6-10-23)

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (4-1-23)

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "The Flowers That Bloom in the Spring" from THE MIKADO by Gilbert and Sullivan.)

Indictments, arraignments, and all--
Tra la--
Will make Trump accountable now.
And of course we know HE has the gall--
Tra la--
To make someone else take the fall--
Tra la--
Who knows what he will avow?
Who knows what he will avow?
It seems that whatever he does casts a pall
On all of us, and we hate being in his thrall.
Tra la la la la,
Tra la la la la…
We hate to be in the man's thrall.

Tra la la la la…
Tra la la la la…
Tra la la la la la la.

Indictments, arraignments, and all--
Tra la--
Are giving us reason to hope.
What Trump does with docs in his haul--
Tra la--
Is actually not his call--
Tra la--
And we're ALL at the end of our rope.
Yes, we're ALL at the end of our rope.
Since Trump and his legal team know how to stall,
To get him convicted, the order is tall.
Tra la la la la,
Tra la la la la…
The task is not going to be small.

Tra la la la la…
Tra la la la la…
Tra la la la la la la.

-by Bob B (6-14-23)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPmBrgWpRLc&t=10s

DT:
It makes no sense to me at all.
It's really stupefying.
Why don't more Americans
Believe me when I'm lying?

I have had SO much practice.
It's SUCH a cinch to do.
After telling fibs, I start
Believing they are true.

My fans, of course, have no trouble.
They will not deceive me.
I could say the earth is flat,
And they all would believe me.

Republican opponents are scared
Because I'm in control.
I'm ahead of all of them
In poll after poll.

I have no fear of all of these
Indictments. They're baloney!
If prosecutors say that they
Have evidence, it's phony.

Me a co-conspirator?
Well, now that depends.
I prefer to say that it
Is friends helping friends.

That ****** misconduct crap--
That's another gripe.
I wouldn't touch those women, for
They're clearly not my type!

I lie and say that Democrats
Like an open border
And socialism. Thus, I cause
Chaos and disorder.

Oath Keepers, Qanon,
And Proud Boys are my fans.
I can count on them to help me
Carry out my plans.

Even if I am convicted,
That would be okay
Because I know my fans would still
Send their votes my way.

If I continue to muddy the waters,
I'll be sitting pretty,
For I'll turn people against the system.
Aw, what a pity!

I laugh when people talk about
Accountability,
For don't they know that all those rules
Do not apply to me?

I'll have to play the religion card
To bring in millions again.
Here's my plea: "O Praise the Lord
And send those checks! Amen!"

-by Bob B (8-4-23)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (4-3-24)

Nominee Gina Haspel
To head the CIA? No way!
How can senators ignore
The ugly truths on her resumé.

Having run a black site in Thailand
Where prisoners were tortured, she
Then erased the evidence
In hopes to clear the agency.

And now our leaders want to promote her?
****! Please excuse the profanity,
But one would think it more apropos
To try her for crimes against humanity?

"Enhanced interrogation techniques"--
What a sickening euphemism
Used to justify the use
Of torture to fight terrorism.

According to Trump, waterboarding
Is an acceptable practice; what's more,
He would push it further and do
What conscientious people deplore.

Apparently, justifications
For cruelty are easy to spin
When democratic values are being
Attacked from both without and within.

-by Bob B (5-14-18)

Fact-checking is meaningless if
People have no respect for facts.
Just watch social media and you
Will see how the public reacts

To natural disasters or shootings.
Conspiracy theories quickly abound
And suddenly the Internet is
An informational battleground.

Knowing the truth no longer gives us
A feeling of calm or a sense of relief,
Since few people have an incentive
For altering a false belief.

Experts say our psychological
Weaknesses are targets for those
Who spread misinformation for
Ideological ends. These pros

Know how to use the media well.
Their credibility's merely a ruse.
And suddenly the falsehoods are
Amplified all over the news.

Hacks and kooks and fringe group crazies
Have been around forever; it's true.
If there's a chance to spread their lies,
They do not miss a cue.

Fringe groups going mainstream. Yikes!
That's a recipe for disaster,
Especially when a gullible public
Eats up the nonsense faster and faster.

Orwell's 1984
For many years made us wary.
The year twenty seventeen
Is also looking ****** scary.

-by Bob B (9-3-17)

How incredible it would be--
How inclusive, how fulfilling,
How thoughtful, how compelling,
How ennobling, how thrilling,

How embracing of people all over,
How respectful, how caring,
How auspicious, how prudent,
How given to kindness and sharing,

How all-encompassing,
How miraculous, how smart,
How encouraging, how beautiful,
How full of compassion and heart,

How wholesome, how magnanimous,
How honorable; how just--
If only our national motto could be
Stated simply, "In LOVE we trust"!

- by Bob B

Back in the 1950s my cousin
Met a guy, and later they wed.
For sixty-four years they were together,
Until her death parted Shirley and Ed.

They moved to gorgeous New Mexico--
The state where their three kids were bred.
The mountains, mesas, and desert splendor
All were captivating to Ed.

He worked for Sandia Laboratories
And therefore wasn't a knucklehead.
But we never knew what he really did.
A top-secret kind of guy was Ed.

When people didn't use their brains,
He likened them to the living dead.
Critical thinking was high on the list
Of priorities for wise ol' Ed.

A die-hard atheist he was.
One thing that made the man see red
Was forcing religious beliefs on others.
That was anathema to Ed.

No, he was a man of science and reason,
Astute and knowledgeable. He said
That all religions are based on myths,
And myths are myths, according to Ed.

Some say that without religion you can't
Be ethical, but there's no shred
Of evidence to prove that theory.
A perfect example was honest Ed.

He wasn't what you’d call a big spender.
Wasting money was something he'd dread.
Thus, he lived quite frugally,
Though comfortably, if you'd asked Ed.

But he loved friends and family
And welcomed them with arms outspread.
Though he could be a curmudgeon at times,
You couldn't help but like dear Ed.

Until recent years, it was
Quite an active life that he led.
When he was still in his 80s, you could
Play a match of tennis with Ed.

There are people who'd benefit
From following the path he tread.
An active life and an active mind
Were key facets of life for Ed.

Now that he's left us, I can no longer
Chat with him on the phone; instead,
I will rely on my memories--
My memories of dear ol' Ed.

-by Bob B (12-24-22)

Dogs and cats can enhance our lives--
At least when we don't break out in hives,
Constantly sneeze and blow our nose,
And have to experience other woes.
Dogs are very demonstrative,
Quick to obey, and quick to forgive.
Cats, however, are more mysterious,
Less predictable, surely more serious.

It’s true that when a cat’s in heat,
The sounds she makes are far from sweet.
But rub your hand across her fur
And listen to her soothing purr.
Dogs insist on making their mark
By giving a loud, annoying bark.
They scare you with a threatening growl
And drive you crazy when they howl.

Of course, dogs can learn to shake
And sit--both a piece of cake.
They'll fetch, roll over, heel, and stay,
And try to do other things you say.
Cats will hear your every command
But ACT as though they don't understand.
They understand but find it stifling
When asked to do what they find trifling.

If you have a coffee table,
Tie things down if you are able.
Larger dogs will never fail
To knock things off with a wagging tail.
Cats will daintily tiptoe by
And not leave everything awry,
For cats have had much greater success
At demonstrating their finesse.

When dogs perchance let out a ****,
Your nose will crinkle, your eyes will smart.
Cats, however, have much more class;
You hardly know that they've passed gas.
When dogs are out to walk or play,
They'll **** and then just walk away.
With dirt or sand, cats construe
A way to cover up number two.

I have friends who say to me
That dogs make better company--
That dogs provide more dividends
Because they make much better friends.
But I say there should be no shame
If cats make calm restraint their aim.
And I choose friends who in no case
Would slobber on me and lick my face.

Dogs must always get a whiff
Of everything that they can sniff.
One wonders what's going on in their minds
When they smell one another's behinds.
Cats bring manners up a notch:
They don't walk up and sniff your crotch.
They're more subtle and wouldn't dare;
They display more savoir faire.

While dogs don't like to be alone,
Cats…well they do fine on their own.
Dogs out there should NOT be offended;
Any insults were unintended.
I must say I have no regrets
Discussing what I prefer in pets.
Surely, some of you think I'm nuts,
But I still prefer cats to mutts.

-by Bob B (1-27-20)

Insensitivity reigns supreme
At the White House. No, this isn't a dream.
You'd think that one would have more sense.
I guess we can't expect that from Pence.

Two days after eleven died
At a synagogue, shot inside
By an angry extremist--completely hate filled--
Who stated that ALL Jews should be killed,

The vice president, with little regard
For others' beliefs--why's that so hard?--
Introduced a "rabbi" whose views
Aren't respected by practicing Jews

At Lena Epstein's election campaign
In Michigan. Completely insane!
Is Pence defiant, or is he naïve?
Does he not care what others believe?

"Rabbi" Loren has been involved
With Jews for Jesus. They are resolved
To carry out their major ambition:
Converting Jews. Yes, that's their mission.

Many are outraged by the lack
Of sensitivity. Doesn't it smack
Of disrespect, brashness, and cheek--
A real kick in the pants, so to speak?

Do not tell me that reasons abound
Why there were no other rabbis around--
Rabbis whose messages wouldn't collide
With many beliefs of the people who died.

"Rabbi" Loren was there to address
The carnage in Pittsburgh, but also to bless
Republicans wanting a victory nod
From their pro-Republican God.

-by Bob B (10-30-18)

Astronomers have found what appears to be a planet
One thousand four hundred light years away
Called Kepler 452b.
What incredible news to convey!

If the universe has one hundred billion
Galaxies--give or take a few--
Then astronomers' dreams of encountering other
Living beings just might come true.

With a possible seventy trillion stars,
It's very likely we're not alone.
More than a few of these solar systems
Could have what is called a "habitable zone."

The orbit of Kepler 452b
Makes a 385-day year
As it circles a G2-type star--
One that's like our own solar sphere.

The newly discovered planet--it appears--
Is sixty percent larger than Earth
And was formed 1.5 billion
Years before our planet's birth.

If we determine it can't sustain
Life as we know it, chances are
There are other possible planet
Candidates circling another star.

What could the other life forms look like?
The creatures from ALIEN, STAR WARS, E.T.?
Are they beyond our imagination,
Or do they resemble you and me?

Some say be careful what you ask for;
Other life forms might hurt or annoy us.
Or even more frightful than that,
Other life forms could simply destroy us.

That's scary! But consider mankind's destruction
Of our planet Earth, and it's just getting worse.
It might be refreshing to know there's intelligent
Life somewhere in this universe.

- by Bob B

Oftentimes I wonder how life
Would be if a single event from the past
Had been different or hadn't occurred.
My whole life would have been recast.

All that's happened--right or wrong,
Wanted or not, good or bad,
Planned and expected or coincidental,
High or low, happy or sad--

Would be different. But would life be
Better or worse? If either, how so?
I can speculate all I want,
But that is something I'll never know.

Whether I take the road less traveled
Or whether I follow the beaten path,
Decisions I make are sometimes fruitful;
When not, I deal with the aftermath.

If certain causes and conditions,
Whether they were big or small,
Had been even slightly different,
I might not be here at all.

All it takes is a butterfly
In the Amazons to flap its wings,
And that--some people say--will have
An effect on countless other things.

Go to the beach and walk away
With just one grain of sand. No more.
Although it's imperceptible,
The shore now is a different shore.

Everything is interconnected
In ways too subtle to understand--
From giant, spinning galaxies
To the tiniest grain of sand.

-by Bob B (12-12-21)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (4-26-24)

"Distractions, yes! How I love them!
I love to keep the media guessing.
And I can do most anything
And still get my supporters' blessing.

"Wait until they see my budget.
I can hardly contain my laughter.
Crafty convincing will prove we don't
Need the programs I'm going after.

"The EPA? A waste of money.
How easy it will be to arrange
To spend our money on something much
More important than climate change!

"And programs for the needy? Bah!
Important to me is the person who offers
The most discreet methods of placing
Large amounts of cash in my coffers.

"My poorest supporters won’t even see
How badly they are being *******.
I'll keep blaming the dishonest press
And the Democrats' ineptitude.

"Those making over 250
Thousand dollars a year deserve
More in the way of tax breaks for they
Are the supporters I aim to serve.

"I don’t care if kids go hungry.
The rich and poor and in-between
Will benefit more if we direct funds
Into our giant war machine.

"I'm beside myself with joy.
I'm the expert. I'm so good
At making people think I give
A **** about their livelihood.

"The poor, the kids, the elderly,
People needing jobs…ALL
Will be so much better off
After I build my towering wall.

"I need my weekends at Mar-a-Lago.
It's there where I can clear my head.
Will three million dollars of taxpayer money
Per weekend put us in the red?

"It's great how you can manipulate
The people by making up facts and lies.
Most of them don't even know
You're pulling the wool over their eyes."

- by Bob B (3-17-17)

"It's so much fun being president
Of a great country like this.
I love it when people sing my praises,
So everyone can share my bliss.

"I can do whatever I want.
The only ones who seem to obsess
About my activities are
What I call the dishonest press.

"My people don't give a ****
About my income tax returns.
My people have faith in me
And listen when I express my concerns.

"I can hire whoever I want.
And what's more I can require them
To pledge complete loyalty to me.
If they don't, I can fire them.

"You can gain so much support
If what you do when critics start pressing
Is cut off access to information.
Confuse 'em all and keep 'em guessing.

"When they bring up a Russia connection
And even suggest the word 'collusion,'
I distract them with tweet after tweet
To make a commotion and cause confusion.

"One of my favorite perks on the job
Is taking all of my paid vacations.
I also love having the power
To cut off any investigations.

"My business empire continues to grow.
Conflict of interest? Bah, that's bunk.
Don't believe it when the media
Say my approval ratings have shrunk.

"All of my success up to now
Adamantly underscores
One of my favorite sayings, and that's
'You scratch my back, I'll scratch yours.'

"And when the people take you to court
For stiffing them or trying to ***** 'em,
Use your billions of dollars to pay
Lawyers to help you countersue 'em.

I love to have my fans in Congress
Eating out of the palm of my hand.
We have to merely yell, 'Fake news!'
When something doesn't go as planned.

"Regarding international affairs,
They say I'm awkward and not well versed.
It isn't about the rest of the world;
It's all about America first!

"Any group that gives me money,
Gets my support all the way--
From dangerous climate change deniers
To all my friends at the NRA.

"When my critics complain about
Anything I say or do,
I love to go on TV and say,
'I'M the president; not you.'"

-by Bob B (7-5-17)

Experience the moment.
Breathe it in.
Watch it. Observe it.
Ignore the din
 
In your surroundings—
The chatter, the clatter.
Just this moment
Is all that should matter.
 
Let the moment
Fill you completely.
Notice how subtly
And how discreetly
 
Your body responds
As calm imbues you.
Breathe in and out;
Let it suffuse you.
 
Thoughts will come
And thoughts will go;
Just don’t hold them;
Go with the flow.
 
Ideas pass by
Like images on a screen.
Watch them proceed.
Don’t intervene.
 
If the sensation
Of being bathed in light
Pervades your being,
That’s quite all right.
 
Past, present,
And future exist
All in this moment;
Life is a mist,
 
A cloud, a dream,
A river that flows,
A flash, the morning
Dew on a rose.
 
Observe how everything’s
Interrelated;
Are you meditating
Or being meditated?
 
- by Bob B

-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)

-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.)

ANOTHER INDICTMENT…

Eleven Oath Keepers were
Indicted for the part they played
On January 6 during
The insurrection escapade.

Seen as seditious conspirators,
The coup plotters appeared to be
Eager to use brute force to change
Election results that day in D.C.

During the violent chaos, Trump
Was said to be glued to his TV screen
While call after call came in from people
Asking him to intervene.

Trump's inaction makes him look
Like a co-conspirator who
Condoned the Capitol attack
As a way to carry out his coup.

NICE TRY…

Another conspiracy theory is now
Being spread by our friends on the Right,
Which shows how they love to alter
History through the use of sleight.

They say a man with the last name Epps
Incited the mobs on the sixth. The man
Was a federal agent, they say,
And the brutal attack was an FBI plan.

Nice try, people. Your lies fall flat.
Ray Epps is a Trump supporter--
Not a federal provocateur--
And that makes him an election thwarter.

MASS FORGERY…

Republicans in a number of states
Tried to pull off an election scam.
They forged some docs in efforts to show
That they were the REAL electors. Wham!

They got caught. Let's hope that they
Pay for their crime. But isn't it odd
That they scream, "Fraudulent elections!"
While they're committing election fraud?

-by Bob B (1-14-22)

Lest we hopeful humans forget
That glory ever fades,
Dashing hopes of permanence.
Ah, the ace of spades.

The morning dew on leaves and blossoms
Evaporates in the sun,
Bearing deep significance
When all is said and done.

Holding on to attempts to glimpse
Into eternity
Defrauds the mind that wants to believe
What wasn't meant to be.

What was, what is, and what shall be
Will manifest despite
All attempts to categorize
What is wrong or right.

Relaxing into the universe--
Into the constant flow--
We release the bonds, the fetters,
Of what we think we know.

That must be the ultimate--
The effortless release,
Blissless bliss, beingless being,
Indescribable peace.

- by Bob B

Some people call it karma;
Others just cause and effect.
One might also call it comeuppance:
What we sow, we will collect.

While many towering figures attended
The funeral of John McCain,
Trump was forced to watch from a distance.
A TV screen was safe terrain.

Without even hearing the president's
Name mentioned, anyone
Could hear in eulogies and speeches
The great damage that he has done.

We will rise above this, we hope.
We will survive direct assaults
On freedom and democracy.
We can grow and learn from our faults.

Don't worry, Mr. Trump.
One day you'll be invited
To something most don't want you to miss:
That's when you get indicted.

-by Bob B (9-3-18)

Many speakers of English have trouble
Knowing which pronoun they should be using.
Why do they find "I" or "me"
Or "she" or "her" so confusing?

"Between you and I" is a phrase
That many speakers of English say.
"Between you and me" is spot on.
Don't let "I" get in the way.

"Her brother and her went to the movie."
How could "her" go to a show?
"She and her brother" actually went.
Isn't that easy? Don't say no.

"The present is from Julie and I."
From "I"? No, no, that can't be.
Here's what we really should be saying:
"The present is from Julie and me."

"Her and I have known each other
For many years." I hear that said.
Ouch! Let "she" replace the word "her."
It should be "she and I" instead.

If one or more pronouns are used in a phrase,
Here's a tip that's kind of fun:
If you're not sure which one to use,
Always try them one by one.

For example, take the phrase
"Me and Tom like apple pie."
Tom likes pie; I like it, too.
So, it should be "Tom and I."

There you have it. For someone like
You and me, this is a cinch.
You and I will know the correct
Pronoun to use when we're in a pinch.

-by Bob B (9-29-18)

"I read it on the Internet
So it must be true.
There it was in black and white,
With colored photos, too.

"Question what I read? Why?
That's customary?
It was on the Internet!
That's not necessary.

"No, the writer doesn't matter.
What credibility?
The article was written with
Impeccable facility.

"Of course it confirms what I think.
Thus, it was worth reading.
Words to the contrary
Wouldn't be worth heeding.

"Did it open up my mind?
Please, don't make me laugh.
'Open minds are dangerous!'
Should be my epitaph.

"A challenge? Ah, who needs that.
I would rather be
Nestled in my notions
And my complacency."

- by Bob B

Melania must not care
About the hullabaloo
Over her jacket that said
"I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?"

She should know that people
Perchance could misconstrue
Why her jacket says
"I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?"

A lack of sensitivity
Of course came shining through
When she chose to wear
"I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?"

Going on a mission
Is not the time to debut
A jacket that has the words
"I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?"

Her callous motivations
And what she chooses to do
Sound just like her husband's
"I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?"

If she married Donald
For money--if that's true--
It's her life, her choice.
"I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?"

When he's sent to prison
And she cries out, "Boohoo!"
We’ll say to one another,
"I REALLY DON'T CARE, DO U?"

-by Bob B (6-22-18)

I HAVE to admit that I'm baffled when I
Hear English usage that's gone quite awry.
I CANNOT stop thinking that things are amiss
When I hear English that's spoken like this:

"Tina and I's corporation is strong."
How can the speaker not see that that's wrong?
"Me and Tina's" before "corporation"
Likewise should bring about mortification.

"My" is possessive for "I," we should note.
In grade school we all should have learned that by rote.
And since the word "my" cannot stand alone,
It must precede something that we have or own.

"Tina's and MY corporation…" Now THAT
Is hitting a homer when you are at bat!
"Tina's and my…" placed in front of whatever
Does NOT make you sound high-and-mighty or clever,

It's merely the way to express what you mean
With no trepidation of sounding thirteen.
Of course, if you want, you can always say "I's,"
But frankly that's something I wouldn't advise.

-by Bob B (6-21-24)

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)

Often I get messages
That say this site is not secure.
Frequently, I can't sign on,
Which is a bunch of steer manure.

The site creators ought to fix
The problem. Could it be that hard?
I think that hackers could break in
And leave a nasty calling card.

So, site creators, do us a favor
And do what it takes to secure this site,
Making it less vulnerable
AND a bit more watertight.

-by Bob B (9-7-25)

America has no monopoly
On white nationalism and hate,
Which the recent shootings in
The mosques in New Zealand demonstrate.

Men, women, and children were slaughtered
While praying on a holy day
When a deranged hater decided
Their lives were his to take away.

It doesn't help when Trump comes off
Sounding like an Islamophobe.
To see evidence of that
Doesn't require a Mueller probe.

Calling for a Muslim ban
During his campaign, he sought
To gain support by stoking fears
And HE knows how to stir the ***.

His vitriol continues as he
Calls asylum seekers invaders
And stone-cold criminals, thereby
Inciting his abhorrent crusaders.

Use fear and what happens?
The consequences prove to be dire.
We see what kinds of maniacs
That vile and odious words inspire--

Maniacs filled with anger,
Malice, bitterness, and spite,
Who think it is a privilege
And special honor to be white.

We all have a duty: we must
Use our vote to shut off the spigots
Of extremism and hatefulness--
To stop electing hateful bigots.

The world grieves as innocent people
Lose their lives while at prayer.
Terrorists want us to think
That we aren't safe anywhere.

Offering sympathy is fine,
But frankly, inaction has its flaws.
Instead of requesting thoughts and prayers,
New Zealanders will change gun laws.

-by Bob B (3-16-19)

Trump STILL can't stand the thought
That Clinton won the popular vote.
In efforts to cause a major distraction,
He's keeping the voting fraud rumor afloat.

Clinton received two point eight
Million more votes than he--
Votes from voters physically present
Or votes from those voting absentee.

He says that he has evidence
Of widespread fraud. We can surmise
That he has his "alternative facts"--
A handy euphemism for lies.

It's a preposterous, baseless claim,
A mere BELIEF that he maintains,
Another false conspiracy theory,
An insult to people who use their brains.

Voting fraud is an issue
That Trump loves to keep in his sights.
For him it's a very useful excuse
To go after voting rights.

If there was so much voting fraud,
The chances of which are very slim,
Does Trump ever wonder how many
Fraudulent votes went to him?

The more he whines, the more he harps--
He's even driving Republicans mad!--
The more he loses the smattering
Of credibility that he once had.

- by Bob B (1-24-17)

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (10-29-24)

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)

It’s a female’s world.
Well, for emus it is.
Once her egg's been laid,
The rest of the work is HIS.
Her mate, who's already built
Their nest, sits on the eggs
And barely even gets to
Rise to stretch his legs.
He doesn't even drink,
Eat, or leave the nest.
His only nourishment
Is morning dew at best.
Meanwhile, the female
Doesn't hesitate
To say good-bye to her beau
And look for another mate.
After the eggs have hatched,
The male takes care of the chicks
By teaching them how to perform
The usual emu tricks,
Such as how to eat
And how to socialize
With all the other little
Emu girls and guys.
Soon the process will start
All over again.
I wonder if he envies
The life of an emu hen.

-by Bob B (10-14-21)

When at least ONE child is happy,
We should be delighted.
But NOT wanting happiness for all
Would be rather shortsighted.

If even ONE child is in pain,
How could we find peace
Until we've found a way to make
All children's suffering cease?

Can we positively state
That in our major decisions,
The welfare of children everywhere
Accords with our visions?

When we see that suffering occurs,
Let's not avert our eyes.
Denial won't solve abuse or hunger
Or stop the young ones' cries.

Ignoring the needs of the world's children
Takes a heavy toll.
If wanting to help all kids is a pipe dream,
At least it's a worthy goal.

- by Bob B

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (3-8-20)

BIDEN (to Bush)
I have to say,
Because of you, man,
We have this mess
In Afghanistan.

BUSH
It's not my fault.
We were attacked
On 9/11,
As a matter of fact.
If we hadn't gone
To Afghanistan
What would have been
Al-Qaeda's next plan?

BIDEN (to Bush)
But wait a minute!
Al-Qaeda was routed.
But let's talk about
Other things you flouted.
Like the truth when you said--
Like a vicious hawk--
That there were reasons
To invade Iraq.

OBAMA (to Bush)
Ah, so it's your fault.

BUSH
No!
WE went there
Because of the production
Of dangerous weapons
Of mass destruction.

OBAMA (to Bush)
But how did they ever
Get on your list--
The WMDs--
For they DIDN'T exist?

OBAMA, BIDEN (to Bush)
See, it's your fault!

BUSH
No, it isn't!
I decided
As commander in chief
That Saddam Hussein
Was causing too much grief.
I had to do
Something about it.
So, I had my team
Try to figure out it.

OBAMA, BIDEN
Figure it out,
Is what you mean.
But come on now:
You've GOTTA come clean.

BUSH (to Obama)
Wait!
You're the one
Who pulled our troops
Out of Iraq,
Which then allowed groups
Of ISIS fighters
To spread their hate
As they tried to form
An Islamic state.

So it's your fault.

OBAMA (to Bush)
The Iraqis wanted
Us to leave.
I didn't have
Any tricks up my sleeve.
The war in Iraq
Was a major distraction,
It didn't help matters,
Not even by a fraction.
Because of you,
People lost their focus
On Afghanistan
With all your hocus-pocus.

BUSH, BIDEN (to Obama)
But then you suddenly
Had the urge
To initiate
A giant surge
Of troops again
In Afghanistan.
What the hell
Were you thinking, man?

TRUMP
You all bear
Responsibility.
The war was a lesson
In futility.

BUSH, OBAMA, BIDEN (to Trump)
You're the one
Who spun his wheels.
With Taliban forces
You made some deals
Without including
Officials from
The government.
And that was dumb!
Did YOU perhaps show
With your Sharpie and your chart
That by May 1
The troops would depart?

TRUMP (to Obama and Biden)
Now wait a minute!
Part of your campaign
Was troop withdrawal
From the Afghan domain.

BIDEN (to Trump)
And that's what I did.
I followed through
With an agreement
That was made by you.
It wasn't something
That I reversed.
I just moved it
To August 31st.
Who could know how long
The government would last
And that the Taliban
Would move in so fast?

BUSH, OBAMA, TRUMP (to Biden)
Then it's YOUR fault!

THE PEOPLE (to Bush, Biden, Obama, and Trump)
It's EVERYBODY'S fault…
Along with Congress
And others we could blame.
But stop pointing fingers
And end this stupid game!
You ALL bear the fault.
Be that as it may,
What is done is done.
That was yesterday.
We need to save lives,
So, find a way somehow
To try to figure out
What to do now.

BIDEN, OBAMA, TRUMP, BUSH (pointing at one another)
But it's still your fault!

THE PEOPLE
Stop!

-by Bob B (8-18-21)

°Very loosely based on Stephen Sondheim's song "Your Fault" from INTO THE WOODS

A monk went to meet with his master
And wondered what the sage would say.
"Master," he said, "I'm disappointed;
Today hasn't been my day.

"My mind is very distracted; it's like
A monkey jumping from limb to limb.
My legs ache; my eyelids are heavy;
I fall asleep when the lights are dim.

"Whatever I'm doing doesn't seem right.
I seem to be floundering in a morass."
The master quietly gazed at the student
And calmly said, "It will pass."

A month later the monk returned
To meet with his master once again.
"Master," he cried excitedly,
"I think I've grasped the meaning of Zen!

"Today my meditation was perfect.
I feel so calm; I feel such peace.
My mind is clear, focused and centered--
The way it should be when all thoughts cease.

"It's just like a…I don't know…
A calm lake as smooth as glass."
The master looked at the monk and said
Matter-of-factly, "It will pass."

-by Bob B (6-1-17)

°A Zen story retold in verse

(This poem could be sung to the melody of "A Lot of Livin' to Do" by Charles Strouse and Lee Adams.)

There are books that fill all my cases.
Some are old, some flashy and new.
All those books leave no empty spaces.
I've got a lot of reading to do.

There are lots of topics to choose from.
There is fiction; there's non-fiction, too.
Lots of books that I get my views from.
I've got a lot of reading to do.

All those books are reading adventures,
And they lift me up when I'm blue.
I like to call them reading thirst quenchers.
I've got a lot of reading to do.

There's so much to read,
So much to learn, so much to know.
Read a book and you will grow!

I love to read books over and over--
A practice that I'd never eschew.
My stack's as high as the White Cliffs of Dover.
I've got a lot of reading to do.

Yes, reading MUST be called my main passion.
Can't live without it. What about you?
May it never go out of fashion.
I've got a lot of reading,
Lots and lots of reading,
I've got a lot of reading to do.

-by Bob B (8-16-22)

"I was like, Wow, THAT is crazy!
He was like, There's no parallel.
I was like, That is SO bizarre.
He was like, Yeah, what the hell?

"So I was like, Why don't people get it?
He was like, They are SO deranged.
I was like, What is happening here?
He was like, Weird how people have changed.

"I was like, I am flabbergasted.
It hit me like a ton of bricks.
He was like, Yeah, that's so strange.
But that's how people get their kicks.

"I was like, Couldn't they see it coming?
He was like, Yeah, give me a break!
I was like, What were they thinking of?
He was like, THAT really takes the cake!

"I was like, What are we going to do?
What will it take to get it together?
He was like, Well, if we do,
Knock me over with a feather."

What's going on with the English language
With the overuse of "like"?
It seems that specificity
And clarity have gone on strike.

-by Bob B (10-19-21)

Oh, how sad! Too many voters
Refused to listen to the warning.
Because of that, this day this year
Should be a national day of mourning.

We mourn the loss of what we know
Has truly made our country great,
For now we have a person in charge
Who wrote the playbook on how to hate.

A whiny child who cannot handle
Criticism. THAT is he.
If you want to work for him,
You MUST declare your loyalty.

He's no less vicious, no less selfish,
No less shameless, no less crass.
He loves how Zuckerberg, Bezos, Musk,
And others line up to kiss his ***.

He says he stands for unity.
Do people really think he has changed?
His speech and actions show that he
Is no less divisive, no less deranged.

Watch as Trumplicans fall in line
And cave in to his ruthless threats
As he lays out his disastrous agenda,
Vindictive and vengeful, with no regrets.

Amazingly, there are voters
Who think the man was heaven sent!
A pathological liar and felon
Should not be our president!

And so we grieve for America.
What will it take to ease our fears?
What will it take for hope to return?
How will we get through these next four years?

-by Bob B (1-20-25)

The Dems have taken back the House!
Hopefully, there now will be
For Donald Trump and his admin team
Some accountability.

For two years, Republicans
Have groveled before the man at the top,
Assisting him in obstructing justice.
The nonsense is going to have to stop.

The president's relationship
With the truth worsens every day.
Normal leaders would watch their step,
But his huge ego gets in his way.

Trump’s talking points, for instance,
At a recent Cabinet meeting
Were right out of Putin’s playbook--
Not worthy of even retweeting.

Well, now it’s about time
That members of Congress voice their concern.
Forget about being obsequious,
Mealy-mouthed or taciturn!

Now the American people will have
A House that really cares about them--
One that will fight for justice and also
Condemn that which it ought to condemn.

Many sworn into office today
Reflect diversity in their faces--
Mainly among the Democrats,
Who won highly competitive races.

Progressive change won’t be easy.
There’s STILL a storm that we have to weather:
Trump’s sycophants in the Senate--
Another story altogether.

The past two years have clearly shown us
What a horrible mess we're in.
Positive change will move us forward.
Let the oversight begin!

-by Bob B (1-3-19)

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)

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.)

Jimmy Kimmel is back! Hurray!
He never should have been suspended.
But Trump's attempts to stifle any
Criticism hasn't ended.

Trump seems to get great pleasure
Watching Americans lose their jobs
While HE gives tax breaks to the wealthy
And fraternizes with the nobs.

The man's so terribly insecure
That he is unable to take a joke.
Anyone who voted for him
Really "bought" a pig in a poke.

To silence the voice of anyone
Who's witty enough to make us laugh
At Trump and his ridiculousness--
Along with the craziness of his staff--

Is out of the playbook of dictators.
Trump's idols have all done the same:
Putin, Orbán, and Erdoğan
Are all in the autocrats hall of fame.

Since tyrant Trump will NOT allow
Anyone to criticize him
And calls them anti-American,
He just makes more people despise him.

Let's all give three cheers for Jimmy
And not give in to intimidation.
Trump is the one who needs to be muffled;
Kimmel deserves a standing ovation.

-by Bob B (9-27-25)

Joe, our grade school bully,
Never bullied me.
Flying under the radar,
I got off scot-free.

Though I felt relieved,
I should have been incensed,
For seldom were his victims
Ever recompensed.

I wish I'd had the chutzpah
To walk up to him and intone,
"Hey, brainless buttface,
Leave that kid alone!"

What I would have done next,
I haven't the slightest clue.
I was a geeky kid
Who'd jump if you said "Boo!"

I should at least have tried
An approach more diplomatic
And NOT have selected
An expression so…emphatic.

Nonetheless, I never
Castigated Joe.
I was a helpless kid;
What the heck did I know?

We adults see bullying,
And we don't make a fuss.
Are we just delighted
That no one's bullying us?

We all know what happens
When people are afraid
To speak out against injustice:
Humanity is betrayed.

- by Bob B

Speaker of the House, Mike Johnson,
Now compares himself to Moses.
It's rather disconcerting what
His total self-aggrandizement shows us.

It's what he told Christian lawmakers.
Now he's waiting to cross the Red Sea.
How arrogant and delusional
Can a politician be?

Strangely, he said that God had spoken
To him when he was down on his knees.
He might as well have compared himself
With Paul Bunyan or Hercules.

It makes one wonder whether Johnson
Has been a bit too much on the sauce.
Will his ego grow so large
That he will nail himself to a cross?

Let him raise his rod and try
To part the waters. Wish him luck.
To tell the truth, Johnson seems
Less like a Moses and more like a schmuck.

-by Bob B (12-7-23)