Lucita clearly wasn't a beauty.
Her grade school features were unrefined,
Awkward, plain, unattractive….
(I'm trying not to be unkind.)

Her classmates loved--as many kids do--
To find people's faults and then make fun of them.
Lucita's classmates tormented her;
I know because I was one of them.

I didn't say mean things about her,
Tease her or call her a horrible name.
My silence, however, made me complicit;
Because of my silence, I shared their shame.

How often are we silent when
We see injustice right before us?
Do we fear becoming involved
Or hope that the "evil" will ignore us?

History shows what happens to people
When others stay silent and don't speak out.
Only by standing up to injustice
Can real change come about.

Lucita didn't stay long at the school.
I think her family moved away.
I'm sure the kids found someone else
To taunt, belittle, pester, and flay.

I hope that for Lucita a happy,
Fulfilling life has been her reward;
I hope the once gawky duckling
Opened her beautiful wings and soared.

- by Bob B

Uvalde, Texas. Miah Cerrillo,
A child only eleven years old,
Will never forget a day in May
As she watched a horrible scene unfold.

She was in class when a shooter entered
And massacred kids before her eyes.
The weapon that he used was the type
That spews bullets that pulverize.

To save herself, Miah thought fast.
To trick the killer, she tried to pretend
That she was dead, and that she did
By smearing herself with the blood of a friend.

Perhaps her decision saved her life.
She is lucky to still be alive.
But nineteen other children and two
Teachers sadly didn't survive.

What are lawmakers going to do?
Will they be among the ones
Who truly believe deep down in their hearts
That kids are more important than guns?

-by Bob B (6-10-22)

Trump is out to destroy our country
While the Republicans stand by and gawk.
Jobs and programs to keep us running
Smoothly have been on the chopping block.

When he rambles on he says
The craziest things we've ever heard:
Annexing Greenland, Canada,
And Panama! That's absurd!

He is making enemies
Of all our allies and friends from the past.
Our reputation's been shot to hell.
The nation's prosperity cannot last.

Folks on Wall Street are going crazy
About the tariffs that make no sense.
When other countries push back, the great
Retaliator takes offense.

His spokespeople, Cabinet members,
And friends in Congress give their support
By lying to the rest of us.
Even his lawyers lie in court!

Our lives are even more in danger
From careless decisions and deadly diseases.
The Trump administration, however,
Doesn't care. It does what it pleases.

Any talk of reason with him
Leaves the maniac none the wiser.
It seems as though his buddy Putin
Is his dearest and closest adviser.

He's the most vindictive person
I've ever seen! No one can top him.
Congress, are you listening?
Somebody's going to have to stop him!

-by Bob B (3-14-25)

Madness pervades Trumplandia
As Donald Trump basks in delusion.
Lies to cover up other untruths
Are being told in mass profusion.

Cover-ups require deceit.
We can observe how they smother
The truth, for daily we are seeing
One cover-up after another.

When Trump is wrong, heaven forbid
That he admit his gaffe or mistake!
His violent storm of lies will leave
Mass confusion in its wake.

To rally support, he needs his team
Of sycophants to back his tales,
Which looks even more absurd.
The man has clearly gone off the rails.

Then he calls his henchmen forth
To use all their ammunition
To pressure officials in agencies
To lie for Trump or lose their position.

All the corruption, all the abuse
Of power is madness in every sense.
The president is living out
His fantasies at OUR expense.

Investigative journalists
Seeking the truth, in Trump's eyes,
Are the enemy of us the people
When they point out all his lies.

The TRUTH will be HIS nemesis
Instead of being OUR enemy,
For when more people's eyes are opened,
The truth is what will set us free.

-Bob B (9-10-19)

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.

A monk and his disciple walked--
Bundled up to try to stay warm--
Down to the nearby beach shortly
After they'd had a monstrous storm.

Thousands of starfish had been washed up
And now were stranded along the shore.
The two were deeply moved by the sight--
Something they'd never seen before.

The monk stooped down and picked up a starfish
That had been lying on the soft sand
And walked out into the water,
Holding the helpless being in his hand.

"With so many thousands of stranded starfish
Lying here on the shore in the sun,"
Asked the disciple, "can you make
A difference by saving only one?"

The monk gently placed the starfish
Into the water while nodding his head.
"Well, I think it makes a really
BIG difference to THAT one," he said.

-by Bob B (10-7-19)

°Based on a Zen anecdote (source unknown) retold here in verse.

When an election affects you directly,
And human rights are clearly at stake,
You have a very good reason to worry:
The situation is make or break.

When voters' decisions are swayed by untruths
Prejudice, or even the curse
Of hard-to-swallow religious dogma,
Such decisions are truly perverse.

When people look at their ballots and say
"THAT issue doesn't affect me at all,"
They do not care that other people
Might be up against a wall.

When people feel complacent and comfy
In their own lives and do not try
To see the bigger picture, they often
Ignore an issue and turn a blind eye.

However, when voters think about others
And say, "This ISN'T just about me,"
Then their choices truly affect
The greater good of humanity.

-by Bob B (10-12-24)

Malignant narcissists are dangerous people
With no concern for others—not a bit!
They require constant admiration.
If things don't go their way, they have a fit.

It’s a personality disorder,
And those who suffer from it have a dearth
Of sympathetic feelings and compassion
And have inflated concepts of self-worth.

They derive great pleasure when they lie
To get all that they want and have no shame
Employing any means on earth to have
Control of others, power, wealth, or fame.

Paranoid, they often say that they
Are being persecuted without proof.
Distancing themselves from social standards,
They tend to be standoffish, cold, aloof.

They can be obnoxiously aggressive,
And since they are so selfish, they, of course,
Eagerly abuse and hurt their victims,
And do it with no feelings of remorse.

You MUST have noticed that these traits appear
In someone who is hoping he will be
Living once again inside the White House.
The characteristics fit him to a T!

-by Bob B (9-26-24)

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "Frosty the Snowman," by Steve Nelson and Walter Rollins.)

Manchin the no-man
Is as proud as he can be
When he kills a bill that would help fulfill
A plan for you and me.

Manchin the no-man
Thinks that he is on a roll.
But you wonder whom he's beholden to
And to whom he's sold his soul.

There must be something going on
That makes him act this way
And has progressives reeling as
He makes his power play.

Manchin the no-man
Thinks that he is being strong
When he acts as though he's a friend, but no,
He just strings us all along.

Manchin the no-man
Is a man who's out of touch
With what people feel has great appeal.
He says, No, it costs too much.

A bill that helps all families
Should be a worthy cause,
Along with one for voters' rights,
But Manchin shouts out "Pause!"

Manchin the no-man
Sadly glories in his ruse.
As he jerks us all around and shares
His nonsense on Fox News.

Manchin the no-man
Is a person we can't trust.
He'll sit back and gloat as he casts his vote
For a bill to bite the dust.

Bumpity-bump-bump, bumpity-bump-bump…
Watch as he says NO!
Bumpity-bump-bump, bumpity-bump-bump…
Manchin has to go.

-by Bob B (12-20-21)

°Joe Manchin, U.S. senator from West Virginia

We hear the sounds of approaching thunder
Drowning out the cries and pleas
Of people calling out for freedom--
Urgent calls in times like these!
March!

We hear the words that spit and sputter--
That splatter against mellifluous sounds
Of peace, of hope, of promise, of caring,
Creating verbal battlegrounds.
March!

We see the dark and threatening clouds
Looming above, waiting to rain
On love and reason. The winds of hatred
Equal the force of a hurricane.
March!

We see around the neck of compassion
A cruel, ever-tightening noose,
While the henchmen multiply--
A surge of bigotry on the loose.
March!

We feel in our hearts the longing
For dreams that should be guaranteed
By thoughtful laws and not by decisions
Forged from ignorance, power, and greed.
March!

We feel the sadness, pain, and despair
Of all who are trampled and left behind,
Of all whose rights are being denied,
Of all who are hated and maligned.
March!

We know that we can transcend bias;
When myth prevails, wisdom departs.
We can flourish by wisely removing
The chains of intolerance from our hearts.
March!

We know that we have the potential
To live in a country governed by laws
Embracing all the people here
And freeing us from tyranny's claws.
March!

- by Bob B (1-31-17)

We hear the sounds of approaching thunder
Drowning out the cries and pleas
Of people calling out for freedom--
Urgent calls in times like these!
March!

We hear the words that spit and sputter--
That splatter against mellifluous sounds
Of peace, of hope, of promise, of caring,
Creating verbal battlegrounds.
March!

We see the dark and threatening clouds
Looming above, waiting to rain
On love and reason. The winds of hatred
Equal the force of a hurricane.
March!

We see around the neck of compassion
A cruel, ever-tightening noose,
While the henchmen multiply--
A surge of bigotry on the loose.
March!

We feel in our hearts the constant longing
For dreams that should be guaranteed
By thoughtful laws and not by decisions
Forged from ignorance, power, and greed.
March!

We feel the sadness, pain, and despair
Of all who are trampled and left behind,
Of all whose rights are being denied,
Of all who are hated and maligned.
March!

We know that we can transcend bias;
When myth prevails, wisdom departs.
We can flourish by wisely removing
The chains of intolerance from our hearts.
March!

We know that we have the potential
To live in a country governed by laws
Embracing all the people here
And freeing us from tyranny's claws.
March!

March to demonstrate solidarity
With others who hear the urgent call.
March together in peace for social
And economic justice for all!
March!

-by Bob B (1-31-17, 1-17-18)

*This is an update and reposting of my Jan 2017 poem.

Seventeen minutes of silence;
Seventeen balloons released;
Seventeen roses in loving
Remembrance of those now deceased.

Tens of thousands of students in schools
Across the country expressed their grief
And solidarity together
In what has become a recurring motif.

Americans by the millions
Increasingly are finding their voices--
Speaking out, demanding change,
Reminding us that we have choices.

Do we choose to do nothing
And cower before the NRA,
Or do we say enough is enough
And get this change underway?

Speak up: no more mass shootings
Or ****** bodies covered with sheets.
Demand real solutions and keep
Assault-style weapons off our streets.

In the age of never-ending wars,
Political chaos, corporate greed,
And out-of-control gun violence,
Our youth are planting a hopeful seed.

May that seed grow and flourish!
Meanwhile, read the names below--
The names of those who lost their lives
At a school in Florida one month ago:

Alyssa Alhadeff, 14
Scott Beigel, 35
Martin Duque, 14
Nicholas Dworet, 17
Aaron Feis, 37
Jaime Guttenberg, 14
Chris Hixon, 49
Luke Hoyer, 15
Cara Loughran, 14
Gina Montalto, 14
Joaquin Oliver, 17
Alaina Petty, 14
Meadow Pollack, 18
Helena Ramsay, 17
Alex Schachter, 14
Carmen Schentrup, 16
Peter ****, 15

-by Bob B (3-14-18)

Lately we're seeing so much nonsense
Happening in this Trump-ruled-land.
Life gets bleaker every day
As things get wildly out of hand.

--Sean Hannity--
Sean Hannity, speaking out--
Ignoring diplomacy and rules--
Says that Trump should bomb Iran.
One of those Armageddon fools?

--King Trump--
Trump regaled photographers with
His Evita pose with flair
At the Kennedy Center where he'd
Formerly made himself the chair.

--DEI and the Department of Defense--
Navajo code talkers are being
Removed from websites. Want to know why?
Pete Hegseth says the reason
Is all because of DEI.

They'd been key in World War II.
Their roles in the war are being displaced.
Unless we pass as white, straight males,
We are going to be erased.

--Lying Musk--
For buying votes of illegals, the Dems
Spent 200 billion bucks,
According to Musk, who's proving that
Trump and his team are lying schmucks.

--The Voice of Freedom--
The Voice of America is being
Gutted by Trump. If you think
That such a move is wise, then know
That Russia and China are tickled pink.

--Misuse of Authority--
A couple hundred immigrants
Were flown to El Salvador, we've learned.
Trump is using wartime authority
During peacetime, but he's not concerned.

He is showing us that he'll
Defy the courts as much as he can,
Confirming what we already knew:
That he's a defiant, despicable man.

-by Bob B (3-17-25)

If you listen, you will hear
The sounds of discontent
As the people join together to
Defy the president.

We meet to send a message to
The one who would be king,
Who only pays attention to
The sounds that go ker-ching.

You'll see us on the sidewalks
And in parks and city squares,
As we say we are tired of being
Controlled by billionaires.

The president thinks it's okay
To do whatever he wants.
He knows that Republicans
Will fear his jeers and taunts.

Every effort is being made
For people to be erased
From history. The government
Is doing it in great haste.

We watch as many people now
Are forced to live in fear.
They try to live their daily lives;
Then BAM! they disappear.

They're sent off to prison that
Is in a far-off land.
How people can put up with this
Is hard to understand.

The DOJ's being weaponized.
Trump says it's required
That anyone not loyal to him
Be canned, be ousted, be fired!

Needless tariffs are raising prices;
People are losing employment.
The pain we suffer seems to add
To Musk's and Trump's enjoyment.

Our health's in greater jeopardy;
Our safety's less secure.
If we don't fight, however will
Democracy endure?

If you love America,
Speak up! Make a fuss!
No for tyranny! Yes for freedom!
March along with us!

-by Bob B (4-8-25)

Oh, those hypocrites! How they love
To blast others for the things they've done!
They will fool a lot of their supporters,
But do they think that they'll fool everyone?

In June, Trump was bragging at a rally
Of troop withdrawal from Afghanistan
And how that once he set the deal in motion,
That there was nothing that would halt his plan.

He also told his fans that once the U.S.
Plan to pull out all our troops had started,
That the Afghan government would fall
As soon as U.S. troops had all departed.

Special immigrant visas were to be
Issued to our allies over there
So they could flee the country to be safe
For having helped us. Such a deal seems fair.

But actions often counter people's words.
Later, reliable sources would reveal
That Stephen Miller with his racist blather
Did his best to undermine the deal.

He and Trump are now feigning outrage.
But what would people otherwise expect
When someone such as Miller--who's a White
Nationalist--and Trump intersect?

A congressman from Florida, Bill Posey,
NOW says that we should have done much more
To help people leave the Afghan nation,
Which is turning out to be a chore.

But wait! When Congress voted on a bill
To assist in making the visa process flow
And also to increase the number of visas,
Posey voted adamantly no!

And so they want to throw all the blame
At Joe Biden, who was left a mess
When back in January he took office
And had this giant problem to address.

The March of the Hypocrites continues.
Certainly, more will join their ranks.
They'll keep throwing rocks from their glass houses,
Deceiving others while expecting thanks.

-by Bob B (8-21-21)

Margaret was more than a family friend;
She also taught me to play the piano.
Once in while she'd have me sing,
When I was still a kid soprano.

I wasn't a gifted piano player.
In fact, I was far from it.
And the stage fright at recitals:
I never could overcome it.

I never practiced as much as I should have,
Which was obvious in my playing.
I'd never become a concert pianist.
That, of course, went without saying.

Yet Margaret never scolded me
Whenever I came unprepared
To my weekly piano lesson--
A little nervous, a little scared.

I would play an exercise
And utterly butcher the innocent piece.
"That one needs a little more work,"
She'd say. Then my fears would cease.

I studied with her for many years--
From childhood through my early teens.
My lessons were not a means to an end;
The end was entirely the means.

Spending time on the piano bench
With Margaret on a chair by my side
Is ingrained in my heart:
Time spent with my mentor and guide.

Instilling the love of music in me,
She was definitely my muse.
Music is a life-changing gift--
A blessing I hope never to lose.

I learned that life can bring happiness,
But also times of sadness and loss.
Margaret developed a brain tumor.
There'd be a river of sorrow to cross.

How could such a wonderful person--
And talented, too--capitulate
To illness? Then I faced the truth:
Cancer doesn't discriminate.

When Margaret died, to me all music
Sounded like a dolorous dirge.
But with time, the glorious sounds
Slowly began to reemerge.

She had taught me so much more
Than how to plunk on piano keys.
How sad it would be if ever the wondrous
Notes faded from our memories.

Music's a powerful force in our lives.
Without it I wonder where we would be.
There's one thing that I know for certain:
Margaret will always be music to me.

- by Bob B

In Austria, where I was raised,
A girl like me was highly praised
For entertaining folks at court with song.
But ever since I've been in France,
I barely get a second glance.
Is what I’ve done so really all that wrong?

The rumors fly; they say of me
That I spend far too lavishly
And I should go back home where I belong.
If you were tied to Louis, you
Would know why I do what I do.
Is what I’ve done so really all that wrong?

And so if I say "Fiddlesticks!"
To those who scorn my politics,
I add, "Just wait and let me sound the gong."
But people keep on splitting hairs,
Accusing me of cheap affairs.
Is what I’ve done so really all that wrong?

What is there to hide
Besides my wounded pride?
How COULD they be so mean
To send me TO the guillotine?

I hear that people didn’t take
It well when told to eat some cake
Instead of bread; that didn’t please the throng.
A few faux pas and folks see red
And smear your name and want your head!
Is what I’ve done so really all that wrong?

-by Bob B (9-17-22)

Now that Charlie Kirk is dead,
Christian nationalists will ask
If they can make him a Christian martyr.
Would that be a worthwhile task?

To make a martyr of a man
Who while debating stirred up hate
Would be a slap in the face to all
The people he would denigrate.

Radicalizing college students,
Kirk was clear about his goals:
Normalizing bigotry
And feeding ideas to far-right trolls.

His widow said that she forgave
Her husband's killer--a righteous pose.
But Trump used Kirk's memorial
To threaten his political foes.

He and others lie and say
That Charlie Kirk's assassination
Was a left-wing conspiracy--
A false, divisive accusation.

It's true that Kirk fit right in with
The MAGA world, and that's no bluff.
But there are some who think that he
Wasn't radical enough.

Racist Christo-fascists will now
Exploit Kirk's death to plan and scheme
To make his already over-the-top
Ideas even more extreme.

Trump will continue to placate far-right
Extremist groups. The hate will spread.
And people will ask, "How could this happen?"
While they're burying the dead.

-by Bob B (9-22-25)

Do you want to learn to be evasive,
Obnoxious, cynical, and highly abrasive?
I have the perfect teacher for you
To help you blow up an interview:

Kellyanne CONjob is her name.
An expert at the sidestepping game,
She will teach you to twist and turn
Answers to questions with no concern

For facts and truth. What do they matter
When you've got the gift of empty chatter?
She'll show you with great perfection
How to master the art of deflection.

Being sweet is one of her acts.
She loves to refer to "alternative facts"
To prove her points to the unwary.
Veracity is unnecessary.

Lies can provide great vitality
When you live in an alternate reality.
She will teach you to trick and deceive
With countless gimmicks hidden up her sleeve.

Learn how to blame the media when they
Say things you don't want them to say.
Some of her strategies might give offense,
But mainly in an Orwellian sense.

If you maintain a certain hostility
And think, "To hell with credibility!"
You could work for the president as well
Among the White House personnel.

- by Bob B (1-23-17)

The Masters of Illusion perform
Before your very eyes.
Their clever tricks will astound you--
Watch for each surprise.

Their skillful tactics mesmerize
And seem to entertain.
Caught off guard, you overlook
Their verbal legerdemain.

Artists in deception, they
Require a double take.
Upon scrutinizing them,
You see that they are fake.

They love to pull something out of a hat.
Notice as they grab it:
Hey! A corporate tax loophole!
That is NOT a rabbit!

When caught in their own traps they can
Mysteriously disappear
And suddenly show up again
When the coast is clear.

Cutting things in half occurs
Before the curtain call.
You hardly notice that they're robbing
Peter to pay Paul.

There's always something up their sleeve--
Sort of a bait and switch.
A promise might end up being
Tax cuts for the rich.

Be careful when they smile and say
They want to be your friend.
That's just a ploy; you'll see that
They'll ***** you in the end.

Once they pull out their deck of cards,
You see that they've embarked
On a new, crafty deceptive path.
(Their cards are usually marked.)

They never fail to beguile and amaze--
These Masters of Illusion.
Just know you're always being duped;
But that's a foregone conclusion.

- by Bob B

While the huge Donald Trump
Propaganda machine keeps turning,
It's amazing how much ludicrous
Information we keep learning.

Despite proof to the contrary,
The Trump admin strives to maintain
That Russia DIDN'T meddle in our
Elections. The REAL culprit: Ukraine.

Here is what's so laughable
About the conspiracy theory they've peddled:
That helping Hilary Clinton was
Ukraine's reason for having meddled!

Trump's love affair with Putin
Astounds people worldwide.
How much power do they want?
How much are both of them trying to hide?

After receiving an invitation,
Trump remains undismayed
About the possibility of
Attending next year's May Day Parade.

So he'd sit next to Vladimir Putin--
The powerful Russian tyrant--plus,
Putin would proudly parade the weapons
He'd use against our allies and us.

-by Bob B (11-9-19)

“That surely wasn’t meant to be,”
The grieving wife cried.
“How could one so young and strong
Like him have upped and died?”
 
In vain the woman’s family and friends
Again and again pursued
Ways to mitigate her grief—
To elevate her mood.
 
“You’ll get through this,” some friends said.
“In no time you’ll regain
Your stamina and strength,” they said.
“Time will ease your pain.”
 
She could not grasp the intricacy
Of causes and conditions,
Or halt the endless chain of events
Through wishes or petitions.
 
If she could probe beneath the surface
Of all that she could see,
She’d realize that all that happens
Is REALLY meant to be.

- by Bob B

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)

The Vietnam vet stares at the wide
Forty-two-inch TV screen.
Every so often he steals a glance
At an article in an old magazine.

He rolls his chair across the room
To look out the window. The sun is shining.
He hears a voice on the TV say,
"Every cloud has a silver lining."

Shaking his head, he wheels himself
Back across the room to see
What is going on in the world.
Elections? Storms? A shooting spree?

Memorial Day parades are occurring;
On gravestones wreaths are being laid.
On one channel hundreds of photos
Of fallen soldiers are being displayed.

Then he hears a news report:
More U.S. troops to Afghanistan.
He sits in quiet disbelief,
Listening to the news anchorman.

Looking down at his lifeless legs,
Again he can only shake his head.
His heart sinks, so he changes the channel
To watch another program instead.

The words, however, continue to haunt him
And echo through his war-weary brain:
"More troops…more troops…"
To Afghanistan? This is insane!

"How can so many commentators
Look and sound so unconcerned?"
He asks himself, over and over.
"In all these years, what have we learned?"

Depressed, he turns the TV off
And sits alone, lost in his thoughts,
His heart racing, his hands trembling,
His eyes tearing, his stomach in knots.

Only those in the battle zones
See what they'd never seen before--
Things that will surely haunt them forever--
The unspeakable horrors of war.

- by Bob B (5-26-17)

2023--Memorial Day.
Remembering those who lost their lives
Defending this country, we should continue
To hope that democracy survives.

Many died protecting our land
From countries under fascist rule--
Whose authoritarian
Rulers were abusive and cruel.

Rights were restricted and scapegoats received
Treatment brutal and inhumane.
And humankind suffered another
Bitter, sad, and indelible stain.

Vigilance is required here,
For there are people who prefer
To overlook the lessons from
The past. The horrors could reoccur.

In nations that seek out people to blame
For all the ills that beset the land
And blatantly flout the rule of law,
Democracy loses the upper hand.

Countries are in a great deal of trouble
When voting's restricted and people aren't fazed,
When institutions come under attack,
And when violent thugs are praised.

Those who died defending this country
In the air, on land, or on the waves,
When seeing how some are abusing our rights,
Have to be rolling in their graves.

-by Bob B (5-29-23)

Back in January this year
Sergeant Kennedy Sanders was killed.
Today, for all her dear loved ones,
The hole in their hearts remains unfilled.

Assigned to a military outpost
In Jordan, she and her team became
Targets of a drone attack.
Islamic terrorists were to blame.

Operation Inherent Resolve
Was a mission to combat hate--
The hate that's being perpetuated
By groups such as the Islamic State.

Rebuilding infrastructure was
Why the engineers were there.
The threat of danger was always something
For which the soldiers had to prepare.

Just one day prior to
The day that Kennedy met her end,
She and her mom had talked about
The kinds of Girl Scout cookies to send.

How sad! Because of fanaticism,
Countless innocent people have died.
Religious extremism proves to be
A giant thorn in humanity's side.

Unfortunately, the suffering
Is NOT just caused by militant groups.
Sometimes fanatic leaders cause grief
Through bombing raids and sending out troops.

Kennedy's friends and family
Will sadly but proudly make their way
To Kennedy's grave where they will leave
Flowers on this Memorial Day.

-by Bob B (5-27-24)

The wounded vet marched in the town's
Memorial Day Parade
With feelings of pride along with the sense
Of having been betrayed.

He'd fought in nightmarish skirmishes
In a hellish no man's land,
Pledging allegiance to a country whose war
He didn't understand.

Though proud he was to have served his country,
He couldn't always claim
To be proud of his country at times,
Which was a rotten shame.

When signing up he knew he might
Have to pay a price--
But not the feeling of abandonment
For his sacrifice.

In some ways he felt lucky, for he'd
Returned with his duffel bag--
Unlike some of his friends who had
Come home wrapped in a flag.

The crowds cheered, the bands played,
The ceremony was formal.
Afterwards, the crowds would go home;
Their lives would go back to normal.

Normal for him was a daily struggle,
Therapy, medication,
Recurring dreams, unemployment,
Continuous frustration.

"No more empty promises;
No more tales or lies,"
He muttered softly as "Taps" was played
And tears streamed from his eyes.

- by Bob B

Merle and June needed a break
From their Midwestern town.
Inundated with sales and receipts,
Both were starting to drown.
 
After years without a vacation,
June found an ideal
Vacation spot at a mountain resort,
And the price was a steal.
 
Ah, finally, to be one with nature!
To sit on their behinds!
To escape the intolerable prairie heat!
To put work out of their minds!
 
During their drive, Merle said, "Dear,
This trip should calm your nerves."
He couldn't see the fear in June's face
As he sped 'round the mountain curves.
 
Once they were settled in their cabin,
June's calm turned out to be brief.
Staring out the window she shrieked
"What?" in disbelief.
 
"Merle," she said, "On the path out there…
I tell you, I could have sworn
I saw a man and woman walk by
As naked as the day they were born!"
 
Grabbing her glasses to read the brochure,
June had to squint
To see that it stated "nudist camp"
In very, very small print.
 
More **** couples sauntered by
With body parts a-dangling.
"Bite the bullet," she said to poor
Merle whose nerves were jangling.
 
"Lock up all of our clothes in our safe
So no one can purloin 'em.
It states right here: No Refund, so
If you CAN'T beat 'em, join 'em."
 
So au naturel Merle and June
Enjoyed the fresh mountain air.
Then Merle got a mosquito bite
On his…well…you know…down there.
 
They started to feel a bit more relaxed
After sitting and sipping
On a few cold drinks. Suddenly, they realized:
They'd never gone skinny dipping.
 
Merle learned in the cool mountain lake
That he was a quick reactor:
Walking back to the shore he complained,
"Blasted shrinkage factor!"
 
Walking around unclad was fine--
With that they had no disputes.
But dining felt a little bit strange
In their birthday suits.
 
Swimming, golfing, hiking, riding,
And sunbathing were all fun,
But they burned parts of their bodies that
Had never seen the sun.
 
Burning his *** wasn't part of the plan,
Merle had to admit.
For three whole days it curtailed activities
Because he couldn't sit.
 
After two weeks of mosquito bites
And sunburned rumps they set
Off on their journey home from a trip
The two would never forget.
 
So, what lessons did they learn?
Being a nature lover
Is fine and dandy, but next time they'll do it
With some sort of cover.
 
And to feel the wind blow on them
Could put their mind at ease;
But they also learned that parts of the body
Don’t need to feel a breeze.

- by Bob B

Folks on the Right are up in arms.
Frankly, they are going berserk
After the death of one of their
Provocateurs, Charlie Kirk.

Kirk was mired in controversy.
His death was tragic, nonetheless.
But Trump is wildly lashing out
Instead of trying to decompress.

He's NOT decrying violence
In ALL forms. Instead, he chooses
To tear into people with vengeance and hatred--
A strategy he always uses.

He and his fawning admin team--
Mostly grounded in wild delusions--
Before they even know all the facts,
Are quick to jump to crazy conclusions.

When asked about domestic attacks,
Trump didn't even pause.
He said that far-right perpetrators
Promote, of course, a worthy cause.

It's folks on the Left, he said, who are
The evil ones and must be stopped.
What will the new authoritarian
Measures be that he'll adopt?

People have been fired from jobs
For merely having expressed their views
Regarding Kirk and his agenda.
That has been all over the news.

Trump will demonize his critics,
But will he focus on reason? Never.
We HAVE TO stress the truth and facts
In this country more than ever.

-by Bob B (9-13-25)

The 2018 election approaches.
Trump is carrying forth his plan
To stoke the fears of his base by talking
About a threatening caravan.

A caravan, he says, is coming,
Bringing bad people to the States.
It won't be long, he says, before
They'll be knocking on our gates.

Trump's M.O. is fearmongering.
He's always been so good at that!
When the "wrong" people show up,
You quickly remove the welcome mat.

This election's about Justice
Kavanaugh, he also says--
Kavanaugh who happens to have
Something in common with the pres.

Ironically, that which they have
In common is--without a doubt--
Something a decent person would
Certainly not be bragging about.

Trump also says this election
Is all about common sense,
Of which he has very little.
One thing we know: his ego's immense.

He's NOT talking about how he
Is chipping away at our health care,
Or how he gave tax breaks to
The wealthy. No, he wouldn't dare.

Or how he put us deeper in debt,
So the Republicans now will say,
We have to go after benefits.
To help the rich, someone must pay.

He isn't wrong when he maintains
That this election is all about him.
The GOP is the Party of Trump.
If they win, the future looks grim.

-by Bob B (10-23-18)

Mind power! That's what she says:
Mind power. Understand?
That's what made Hurricane
Dorian turn away from the land,

According to Marianne Williamson,
Candidate for the presidency,
Which makes one wonder whether she's gone
Bonkers with a capital "B."

After the hurricane devastated
The Bahamas with a deadly force,
Williamson claims that mind power
Was able to change the huge storm's course.

Mind power kept the storm
From hammering Florida's coast.
That is why the winds and rain
Inflicted minor damage at most.

But if the mind's that powerful,
What happened to mind power when
The storm headed toward the Bahamas?
It didn’t seem to help much then.

How often has the mind altered
Storms? Hmmm. Check the stats.
I guess this shows that there are wackos
Even among the Democrats!

-by Bob B (9-4-19)

Sitting on the sidewalk
With his back against the wall
Of Bank of America,
He stared. That’s all.
 
With frayed trousers,
A tattered shirt,
Worn sneakers
Covered with dirt—
 
He sat alone.
Only now and then
Did he look up...
And then stare again.
 
A striking contrast
To the passersby—
The Gucci dress,
The George Neale tie...
 
He held a sign;
“HUNGRY” it said,
Scribbled on cardboard,
Written in red.
 
His beseeching gaze
Seemed to convey
His hunger and pain.
I looked away.
 
Someone will give him
Enough for a meal,
I rationalized—
Trying not to feel.
 
I should have helped
The guy somehow;
Those imploring eyes
Still haunt me now.

- by Bob B

Ed was my mom's first cousin by marriage.
Thus, I guess to me,
First cousin once removed
By marriage he had to be.

He lived most of his life in the Land
Of Enchantment: New Mexico,
Where mesas and rugged mountains tower
And wailing desert winds blow.

I loved the phone conversations I had
With Ed and my cousin, for they
Were charming relatives who always
Had so much to say.

Separated by 800 miles,
We had to resort to the phone
To stay in touch, and when she died
And Ed was on his own,

We continued our phone conversations.
It was a sheer delight
To hear the knowledge and wisdom expounded
By someone so wise and bright.

Ed was a man of science and reason
And could get a little bit snarky
When people expressed unfounded beliefs.
Religion to him was malarkey.

We are saved by reason and NOT
By a mythological god.
Myths are fine if understood
As myths, but they are flawed.

He felt that sadly too many people
Do not use their brains.
Instead of trusting reason, they are
Bound by religious chains.

If I brought up astrology
Or Tarot ***** nilly,
Ed would laugh and say that he
Found them just as silly.

Ed would say that reason should guide
Politics as well.
Too many people share the home
Where folly and ignorance dwell.

Whether or not you agreed with him,
You could always be sure
That when you conversed, you'd be on
A fascinating tour.

Ed wanted to donate his body
To science after his death
And made arrangements to do so once
He took his final breath.

In December 2022,
He peacefully died in his sleep.
Great times and great conversations are
The memories I'll keep.

I think about what a character
He was and have to laugh.
"A man who wouldn't put up with nonsense"
Should be his epitaph.

-by Bob B (5-11-24)

Miss Muffins is a corpulent cat--
A trait she hasn't really bemoaned.
However, she likes to see herself
Not as obese, but rather…big *****.

Big ***** she isn't. Let's be frank.
But BIG she is: twenty-five pounds!
Once she discovered la bonne vie,
She put on weight in leaps and bounds.

The first time guests encounter Miss Muffins,
Their comments might sound picayune,
For they remark in disbelief,
"I didn't know you had a raccoon!"

Miss Muffins, who is highly offended,
Would love to dash from the room in disdain,
But since her poundage limits her movement,
Such an attempt would be in vain.

As long as she can lie by the window
And warm herself with the rays of the sun,
She doesn't have a care in the world
And wonders what could be more fun.

It's been a few years since Miss Muffins
Could jump up onto the bed or couch.
Her last attempt: a complete disaster.
She hit the floor with a thud and an "Ouch!"

Now she merely sits by the sofa
And looks up at her masters and cries,
As if to say, "Help me, please;
You could use the exercise."

There she curls up into a ball
And dreams of manifold savory things--
Things like tuna, goat cheese, sardines,
Chicken gizzards, and turkey wings.

If a mouse enters the room,
She says, "Ah, Mousie, I'm not in the mood.
Go ahead and eat what you like;
Just stay far away from all of my food!"

The only time Miss Muffins will run--
Well, sort of--happens each day when
She hears her masters call "Kitty, Kitty."
She knows its dinnertime again.

After her meal, Miss Muffins finds
A comfy place in the house to rest.
According to her theory, that
Is how one lets her food digest.

When little children come to visit,
Poor Miss Muffins lets out a moan.
"Why," she asks, "do they have to tickle
And **** me? Make them leave me alone!"

The best way to win her affection
Is simply to give her something to eat.
You will become best friends forever
By offering her a tasty treat.

If, however, you give her a taste
Of something she hates, she'll be quite candid.
You will know that you have erred,
For you'll be severely reprimanded.

Every so often, Miss Muffins hears
Something that fills her with great disquiet:
When she's at her doctor's office,
A four-letter word is mentioned: diet.

"Ah, it's time to change the subject,"
Thinks Miss Muffins. "Lovely weather."
To counter unwanted suggestions, she knows
We all have to band together.

“Okay,” Miss Muffins now concedes,
"I admit I’m a weight-challenged cat."
She can accept that label, but
Whatever you do, don't call her fat.

-by Bob B (2-18-20)

Take a look around
And tell me what you see.
Do you see a country
Where everyone is free?

Do you see the people
United in a land,
Where people of all color
Are walking hand in hand?

Do you see a church
Where years ago inside
Dynamite exploded
And four young girls died?

Do you see a counter
Where people were not served--
Where unjust laws determined
What certain folks deserved?

Do you see a street
Where protesters were sprayed
With high pressure hoses
While they marched and prayed?

Do you see a window--
If not, take closer note--
Where folks were turned away--
Were told, "You can't vote!"?

Do you see a house
Not everyone could buy
Unless they "qualified"?
Hmm. I wonder why?

Do you see a job
Where privilege preordained
Who'd be hired? Of course.
The practice was ingrained.

From out of the darkness emerged
A beacon, a shining light:
A man who offered us
A peaceful means to fight.

But while we've moved forward,
We keep stepping back,
For now voter rights
Again are under attack.

The long walk for freedom
Is not an easy walk.
Justice is also threatened
By insensitive talk.

For ugly, hateful rhetoric
Stirs the hard of heart
To act in unjust ways
Where reason plays no part.

Understanding, compassion,
And love should be our guide.
Let them push both hatred
And prejudice aside.

Stay on the path to justice
Even though it may seem
That roadblocks get in the way.
Don't give up the dream.

-by Bob B (1-15-18)

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)

Oh, the sensation, the media frenzy,
The spotlight, the fame, the hullabaloo,
When anti-evolution laws
Were challenged by the ACLU!

The year: 1925.
The place: Dayton, Tennessee.
To say it was an extravaganza
Wouldn't be hyperbole.

For many people it was hard
To find a way to reconcile
Biblical accounts with science,
So science found itself on trial.

A young teacher, John T. Scopes,
Was willing to face prosecution
For breaking a Tennessee law for having
Given a lesson on evolution.

The "Monkey Trial" it was called.
The challenge meant swimming upstream
For the feisty lawyer Clarence Darrow,
Who helped to lead the defense team.

A prosecutor was William Jennings
Bryan, who with no apology
Loved to stir up outrage against
Evolutionary biology.

Defendant Scopes quickly found
It wouldn't take long for him to know
What it was like to have a part
In a multimedia reality show.

The courthouse received a make-over:
Platforms for newsreel cameras were built;
Extra spectator seats were added.
They were playing the trial to the hilt.

Concession stands sold food and drinks;
Toy monkeys were on display;
A chimp was dressed in a suit and fedora;
The clergy also joined the fray.

The media and the public loved it!
The country watched the trial progress.
What would win: science or scripture?
The answer was probably easy to guess.

After an eight-day trial, the jury
Deliberated. Nine minutes later
They had their verdict: guilty! How
Could someone question THEIR creator?

Scopes had actually never given
The lesson. That's what he later said.
Strangely, five days after the trial,
Williams Jennings Bryan dropped dead.

Laws later changed, but even during
Current times, some people feel
That stories from the Bible should be
In science textbooks. Now THAT'S surreal!

-by Bob B (11-6-18)

Senatorial candidate
Roy Moore has fallen deeper
Into a mess of his own making.
The climb out is growing steeper.

A fifth victim has spoken up,
Accusing him of ****** assault.
Moore said the accusations
Were lies and he was not at fault.

Following the TRUMP PLAYBOOK
FOR ****** ASSAULTS, Moore claimed
That all the charges were fake news,
And he remained unashamed.

Strategy two: discredit the accusers,
Or act as though you never knew them.
Strategy three: threaten them.
Announce that you intend to sue them.

Increasingly, politicians
Feel that Moore ought to bow out.
Defiant, the candidate
Hopes his fans remain devout.

How could anyone vote him in
And afterwards feel content?
Oh, wait: despite accusations,
They voted in our president.

A watershed moment is happening here
As people say no and start to get tough.
No more covering up of rampant
****** assault. Enough is enough!

-by Bob B (11-14-17)

"There are more important things than living,"
Said Dan Patrick° back in 2020.
His words, of course, were feelingless and shocking,
But people who agree with him are plenty.

Although Patrick's words were focused on
COVID at the time, it is clear
That folks out there will use his argument
To justify the guns that they hold dear.

We can see that certain politicians
And their supporters clearly are the ones
Who've made the choice that life is less important
Than having their huge arsenal of guns.

An epidemic--one of violence--
Pervades this country. Watch the killings surge.
The Second Amendment, misinterpreted,
Contributes in a big way to the scourge.

Doubtless there are certain regulations
That would likely help protect us all,
But people who oppose our taking action
Fight such regulations with a squall.

Our thoughts or prayers will NOT revive the dead.
If people are afraid of making waves,
And if the situation stays the same,
We'll be putting flowers on more graves.

We MUST attempt to end the senseless shootings.
People must stand up and make demands.
Those who scoff at intervention have
The blood of many victims on their hands.

-by Bob B (7-6-23)

°Texas Lt. Governor

When Trump took office, Sean Spicer,
Press Secretary, expressed
Negative feelings about low figures
For unemployment and further stressed

That such statistics were meaningless.
The important thing is jobs, he said.
Apparently, he was implying
That we have often been misled.

New figures have just come out
Regarding the unemployment rate,
Which is 4.7 percent.
The White House NOW thinks that's great!

Suddenly, figures and numbers
Have meaning, though they didn't before.
Isn't it odd how credibility
Doesn't matter anymore?

The White House has no faith at all
In what the CBO° has to say
Regarding repercussions of
The Republican "fix" for the ACA.°°

White House figures will be more accurate,
Spicer insists, which implies
That we are going to be bombarded
With more alternative facts and lies.

- by Bob B (3-11-17)

°Congressional Budget Office
°°Affordable Care Act (Obamacare)

Dangerous you might call her.
Off her rocker as well.
Her strange, obnoxious behavior
Is hard for her to quell.

How she was ever elected
Is anybody's guess,
And yet she's found supporters
To give her the guise of success.

Totally out of place
In Congress, she carries on
As though her sense of decorum
And decency are gone.

She heckles speakers in Congress
And always seems to be lusting
After ill-gotten attention.
Her antics are disgusting.

Her wacky QAnon stories
Are so far off base
That any sensible person
Would find them hard to embrace.

Now she's attacking opponents
In her typical style:
If you oppose her ideas,
You're called "pro-*******."

She lives for lies and drama
And loves to make a scene.
You must know who she is:
Marjorie Taylor Greene.

-by Bob B (4-7-22)

Sometimes we've known that something was going to be scary.
We could picture the outcome with growing ennui.
But once that something happened, it was more frightening
Than we had ever imagined it would be.

Sometimes we've known a storm would cause destruction.
At least that's what the forecasters could foresee.
The storm, however, turned out to be more disastrous
Than we had ever imagined it would be.

Sometimes we've known a disease was going to be deadly.
Hopes of survival brought no guarantee.
Struggling to survive was so much harder
Than we had ever imagined it would be.

Sometimes we've known a person was unstable,
But we couldn't perceive to what degree.
Later we learned that person was more deranged
Than we'd imagined him or her to be.

Sometimes we've known that fighting for our rights
And fighting to preserve democracy
Was going to be a battle more important
Than we had ever imagined it would be.

- by Bob B (2-20-17)

They say in Washington, D.C.
That few are hated as much as he.
Of course, that all depends on whom you ask.
If you ask him, he contends
He's not there to make more friends.
Pushing his agenda is his task.

Yep, the man has found his niche--
The man known as Moscow Mitch.

His biggest friend in D.C. now
Is Donald Trump. Notice how
The two men are connected at the hip.
They will sacrifice--insane!--
Democracy for political gain
With their vile, disgusting partnership.

Yep, the man has found his niche--
The man known as Moscow Mitch.

He truly doesn't dignify
The Senate, where bills go to die.
He prefers to make up his own rules.
Obviously, Mitch's goal
Is only to maintain control
And stack the federal courts with far-right fools.

Yep, the man has found his niche--
The man known as Moscow Mitch.

We know that Russians interfered
In our elections, but what's weird
Is Mitch McConnell doesn't seem to care.
Since Russians helped Trump win before,
He could use their help once more.
Without their help he wouldn't have a prayer.

Yep, the man has found his niche--
The man known as Moscow Mitch.

Just look at his expressionless mug.
(People say he resembles a slug--
A slug with an empty, vapid frown.)
If people really knew what's good,
And if they cared at all they would
Find a candidate to bring him down.

Yep, the man who found his niche--
The man known as Moscow Mitch.

-by Bob B (7-27-19)

Moscow Mitch and Lapdog Lindsey
Have given up on democracy
And fully embraced their thirst for power,
Governed by their hypocrisy.

Power over integrity
Seems to be their guiding drive.
They know that underhanded tactics
Help them keep control and thrive.

Lying for them is par for the course.
With the Trump admin that’s paramount.
How many lies has the president told?
For goodness’ sake, we’re losing count.

Having altered the rules to quash
Obama's prudent Supreme Court pick,
Moscow Mitch has once again
Changed the rules. It makes one sick!

Republicans in Congress now
Mainly sing the same foul song:
"To Hell with the Proper Thing to Do;
Make Up the Rules as You Go Along."

Some misguided voters think
McConnell and Graham are on the level.
Those who perceive their repulsive tactics
Say they've sold their souls to the devil.

For many people, the damage being done
Will last for who knows how many years,
As Trump's four years as president
Confirm some of their deepest fears.

-by Bob B (9-21-20)

(Based on "THERE WAS AN OLD WOMAN WHO LIVED IN A SHOE")
~
When Democrats mention the national debt,
The Republicans panic and they get so upset.
When THEY'RE in control, do they ever balk?
It's just when the Dems are in pow'r that they squawk.

(Based on "HICKORY, DICKORY, DOCK")
~
Lickity, splickity, splat!
L. Boebert's° such a brat.
She thinks it's fun
To flash her gun.
Lickity, splickity, splat!

°Republican Representative from Colorado

(Based on "JACK AND JILL WENT UP THE HILL")
~
Trump and Mel no longer dwell
In our capital city.
They've gone south, and word of mouth
Is that they're sitting pretty.

Trump will sing, "Please kiss my ring!"
To all who come to visit.
He STILL thinks HE'S in charge. Oh, please!
That's REALLY not funny, is it?

(Based on "THERE WAS A CROOKED MAN")
~
There was a crooked con, and he had a crooked scheme.
He used some crooked tactics to achieve his crooked dream.
He had some crooked friends who helped his crooked plan.
But still he lost the race--that crazy, crooked man.

(Based on "HUMPTY DUMPTY SAT ON A WALL")
~
Giuliani couldn't resist.
Tipping the bottle till he got ******.
He claimed that our voting process was marred.
Due to his lying, he should be disbarred.

(Based on "LITTLE BO-PEEP")
~
Ol' Michael Pence had enough sense
To certify the election.
Although he came 'round, later he found
He'd lost his hero's affection.

Though Michael Pence sometimes sounds dense,
Who knows what will fulfill him?
The man didn't get so very upset
When rioters threatened to **** him.

Will he kowtow, grovel and bow
Before a man who is shameless?
He probably will. That's HIS bitter pill,
For he himself is not blameless.

(Based on "BAA, BAA, BLACK SHEEP")
~
Blah, blah, Ted Cruz,°
Have you any guts?
I don't think so since you're nuts.
Why don't you take off
And fly to Cancún
And stay down there forever?
And please do it soon!

°Republican Senator from Texas

-by Bob B (10-11-21)

The year was 1998.
The day to celebrate my mother
In retrospect turned out to be
A day unlike any other.

Not because that Mother's Day
Was from any observation
Unique in form or different from
Any previous celebration.

No, that day was different, for
No matter how much in vain I'd strive
To turn back the clock, that day was
The last I saw my mother alive.

If only I had known, I would
Have had the greatest party of all
With music blaring, food galore,
And party guests from wall to wall.

That's what my mother would have deserved.
For her, however, it would suffice
Merely to be with family.
Reflecting on this, I have some advice.

When you're with family and friends,
This rule should be hard and fast:
Act as though that day together
Very well could be your last.

Show them your appreciation,
Love, devotion, and heartfelt concern.
Demonstrate your loving-kindness,
And you'll receive it in return.

The best way now to celebrate
My mom in actuality
Would be for me to be the person
She'd have wanted me to be.

Having our moms in our memories
And hearts is fine, but one thing's clear:
As wonderful as that might be,
It's not the same as having her here.

-by Bob B (5-12-24)

Much of America is mourning still--
Mourning the light extinguished when
Heedlessness embraced false promise;
Mourning the loss of what could have been;

Mourning the hope of a glorious day
Darkened by a cloud of despair
And sincere interconnectedness
Became replaced by vanity fair;

Mourning the loss of a heart that beat
For all and not for a limited few,
And coarseness received people's praise,
And true refinement became taboo;

Mourning a dream of inclusiveness
With all-embracing open arms
When a nightmare smothered it
And drowned out warnings and alarms;

Mourning the flower of optimism
With hope in every opening bud
When weeds with thorns of cynicism  
Flourished, and hope was dripping in blood;

Mourning the renewed freshness of spring
And the calm peace of a summer's night,
Ravished by winds of uncertainty
And the bitter harshness of winter's blight.

Much of America is mourning still.
The grief will end one day. Till then,
We all move forward while many continue
To mourn the loss of what could have been.

- by Bob B (11-25-16)

Opposition leader in Russia
Alexei Navalny sadly has died.
Putin is surely rejoicing because
Navalny had been a thorn in his side.

In a remote prison that lies
Above the Arctic Circle was where
Navalny spent his final days
To get him out of Putin's hair.

Having survived attempts on his life,
He kept blasting the Putin regime,
Saying leaders were crooks and thieves.
Corruption was his central theme.

Eventually, ******* up charges
Sent him to prison, thus preventing
His attempt to run against Putin,
Whose cruel tactics are unrelenting.

Who'll now lead the opposition,
Knowing that efforts will be curtailed?
High-profile critics of Putin
End up dead, exiled, or jailed.

Navalny wasn't afraid to speak up;
He wasn't afraid to bell the cat.
He hoped to liberate Russia from
The rule of a crooked autocrat.

-by Bob B (2-16-24)

Move over, Delta virus;
There's a brand new bug in town.
It goes by the name of Omicron
And hopes that it won't let us down.

It loves to travel and it moves fast.
From across the seas it traveled here
To liven up our holidays
And wish us all a fun New Year.

It, like you, likes gatherings,
And it, like you, feels neglected
When it introduces itself
To people who are well protected.

No offense, but we would have
Done quite well without you both--
You with your surreptitious
Ways and your rapid growth.

So here we are--once again--
Listening to an ongoing medley
Of songs played by an uninvited
Guest whose visits could be deadly.

By Bob B (12-19-21)

There always have been wacky people
Looking for an eager ear
To listen to their way-out theories.
Move over, wackos: QAnon's here.

So you thought flat-earthers were crazy
Who have no shame in taking a risk
In saying that the shape of the earth
Resembles NOT a sphere but a disc.

QAnon is way out there.
Conspiracy theories are their lot:
Like ***-trafficking Satan-worshiping
Pedophiles in a government plot.

That Trump was chosen to save us all
Is part of the total insanity--
As though the man hasn't done more
To hurt--not help--humanity.

Desperate people use desperate measures.
Trump called a QAnon member a "star."
(When it comes to overall standards,
He knows how to lower the bar.)

It's hard to imagine how QAnon
Theories could generate such an appeal.
For people to be so out of touch
With reality is a scary deal.

-by Bob B (8-22-20)