So ol' Pat Robertson kicked the bucket.
For him the bell has tolled.
He shouldn't complain; he lived to be
Ninety-three years old.

He used his power to galvanize
A staunch religious Right,
And nonsensical culture wars
Became his constant fight.

Having no problem whatsoever
Blending church and state,
Robertson used the media
To spread his platform of hate.

Feminism drove many women
To witchcraft--an evil path--
Robertson claimed, and earthquakes, he said,
Were caused by Jehovah's wrath.

One of his most wrongheaded statements--
Obnoxious in so many ways--
Was when he stated that 9/11
Attacks were caused by gays!

Dangerously incendiary
Statements to him were candy,
And lashing out at others became
His modus operandi.

Equating gays with Satanists
And Nazis--so malicious--
Robertson seemed so very obsessed
With gays. Highly suspicious!

I wonder if he'll realize NOW--
And I don’t mean to be snarky--
That much of what he spouted here
On Earth was full of malarkey.

-by Bob B (6-9-23)

Mr. Miller was our neighbor,
And what a mean, grumpy old man!
At least that's what we kids thought.
Whenever we saw him, we all ran.
He seemed to have an uncanny sense
Of knowing when we were in his yard.
Some of the feisty neighborhood kids
Tried to catch the grump off guard.

At Halloween the Miller house
Was one I always tried to avoid
Until one night my friend said, "Let's visit
The Millers." I wasn't overjoyed.
Mr. Miller opened the door
And--wow!--he wasn't wearing a frown.
He and his wife were warm and friendly
And they had the BEST candy in town!

It's odd how suddenly a person can change
To a kind neighbor from a mean old ****.
But amazingly the transformation
Was not in him, it was in my heart.
Soon after that Halloween he died
From a heart attack; that left us in shock.
I'll never forget kind Mr. Miller--
The "Boo Radley" on our block.

How often we judge before we know!
How often we live in fears we create!
Once our eyes are opened, how glorious!
But when that happens, it's often too late.

- by Bob B

Give a man a Twitter account
And watch him tweet to his heart's content--
A dangerous thing for a gullible audience
And a misinformed president.

Passing on intelligence briefings
And getting his info from "Morning Joe"
And conspiracy theory websites is how
Trump shows that he's in the know.

Will we see obnoxious tweets
Day after day from him?
Will somebody please take that man's
Twitter account away from him?

- by Bob B (11-28-16)

(The following poem could be sung to the melody of Kander and Ebbs' "Meeskite," from the stage production of CABARET. If you don't know the melody, go to YouTube and search for "Meeskite Cabaret" and you can listen to it.)

Mug shot, mug shot…
Trump seems proud that now he has a
Mug shot, mug shot.
I would not be proud if I were he;
But that's so like him.
Will there be damage?
The chance is slim.
Mug shot, mug shot…
Look at it; you'll see it's quite a
Mug shot, mug shot--
Such a scowl and such a look of
Evil and sheer disdain.
He hopes it helps his campaign.

He has four indictments.
Surely, he knows his plate is full,
And when people mention it, he will reply,
"It's BULL!"
He just doesn't get it.
He feels he should be above the law.
His corrupt acts have caught up with him.
Now watch him squirm. Hurrah!

Mug shot, mug shot…
I have seldom seen a viler
Mug shot, mug shot.
He knows that his base will love it.
He thinks it is deluxe,
For he will rake in the MAGAbucks!

Mug shot, mug shot…
Former presidents who have a
Mug shot, mug shot,
Simply don't exist, for Trump
Has turned out to be the first.
For vengeance Trump now has thirst.

Some of us wonder:
In all his trials how will he fare?
His major worry is who's going to do…
His hair!
Still he's complaining,
Trying to turn his base against
The prosecutors and judges, too,
Pretending he's incensed.

Mug shot, mug shot…
Trump has an unprecedented
Mug shot, mug shot.
What will happen if he
Is convicted on many counts?
We'll have to watch as the pressure mounts.
Mug shot, mug shot…
I hope that I never have a
Mug shot, mug shot.
Who would want one that would make you
Look like an evil grump?
Only someone like Trump!

-by Bob B (8-27-23)

At the Saudi Arabian Consulate,
In Istanbul, Turkey, I hear
Something dreadful happened, although
Details are as yet unclear.

Saudi born Jamal Khashoggi,
Journalist for the Washington Post,
Entered the consulate knowing that
It might not be a welcoming host.

An Apple Watch might seem useless.
Khashoggi's Watch, nevertheless,
Recorded his brutal beating and ******,
According to the Turkish press.

But was it an Apple Watch, or had
Turkish authorities bugged the room?
Whatever the case, people are certain
That that’s where Khashoggi met his doom.

We know he entered the building whole.
We're waiting to hear more news releases,
For many fear that the journalist,
Exited the building in pieces.

When asked if he'd condemn the Saudis
If they had committed the ghastly deed,
Trump at first appeared reluctant
To criticize them or intercede.

The Saudis pay billions of dollars
For weapons, he said, to the USA.
And what's-his-name wasn't even
An American citizen anyway.

Later, Trump admitted that
We need a thorough investigation.
But sanctions involving money? No,
That would severely hurt our nation.

Meanwhile, the Saudis **** innocent
Yemenis with the weapons they buy,
And rectitude falls by the wayside
As bank accounts multiply.

-by Bob B (10-13-18)

The date was June 21
In 1964.
Three men° had no idea
What would be lying in store

When they drove through the South
In efforts to promote
Equality by helping
Register Blacks to vote.

They were in Mississippi,
A place that was known for attacks
On basic human rights--
For disenfranchising Blacks.

Arrested and jailed for speeding,
They should have been alarmed.
The locals were working against them.
Of course, the three were unarmed.

After they left the jailhouse,
They were abducted and killed
And buried in an earthen dam--
Their goals as yet unfulfilled.

Two months later the men's
Bodies were found at the site.
Compassionate people were shocked
As details came to light.

The KKK, the sheriff,
And police were involved in the crime.
All but one of the killers
Served very little time.

After years of struggle
And much to our dismay,
We can see voter suppression
Still occurring today.

Why when we seek fair treatment
Are we up against a wall?
Will we ever secure
Equal justice for all?

-by Bob B (6-22-21)

°James Chaney, Andrew Goodman, and Michael Schwerner

Maya Akbar° feared going home
To her hometown in Pakistan.
The person whom she feared was her father--
Obviously, an intolerant man.

Staying with friends in the town of Peshawar,
She didn't trust her family's pleas
For her to return to her parents' home.
Her friends deeply felt her unease.

Maya's father assured the police
That his daughter wouldn't be harmed.
The 19-year old transgender daughter
Nevertheless remained alarmed.

Reluctantly, she went home.
Hours later her friends' hearts sank:
Maya's bullet-ridden body
Was found beside a riverbank.

Police arrested Maya's father.
Her uncle and brothers are also being sought.
All over the world transgender people
Die because of the hatred that's taught.

Some call it an "honor killing."
Honor? No, it's ******, truly.
When ignorance fans the fires of hatred,
Many people suffer unduly.

Efforts are made all over to fight
Laws that are discriminatory.
Laws can change, but changing hardened
Hearts? That’s a different story.

-by Bob B (7-3-19)

°Formerly known as Aftab Aurangzeb, from Nowshera, Pakistan

In Cedar Glen, California,
A woman owned a clothing store.
The woman, Lauri Carleton, flew
A rainbow flag outside the door.

Someone took exception to that--
A hate-filled man, a dunderhead--
Who after making disparaging
Remarks, shot the woman dead.

Always valuing justice and love,
She welcomed the opportunity
To share that love with all and was
A pillar of the community.

She wanted a place that was safe for folks.
That was her dream; that was her plan.
Sadly, her hopes were cut short by
A vile, loathsome excuse for a man.

In an encounter with deputies,
The suspect was shot and killed. But why
Did such a lovely person as Lauri--
A mom with nine children--have to die?

Her husband and children now are grieving.
My heart goes out to each of them.
Certainly, they'll remember her as
A loving soul, a precious gem.

-by Bob B (8-20-23)

"Agitated! People say
I'm 'agitated.' I'm NOT, **** it!
Why would I be agitated?
I say all of them can cram it!

"I missed a ceremony to honor
Fallen soldiers in France. Dare
I say it was a rainy day,
And rain wreaks havoc on my hair?

"Reports that Democrats have won
Tons of elections are beginning
To get on my nerves. It's fake news.
Republicans are really winning.

"They say I'm rude to reporters when
They ask difficult questions. So?
They should only ask about
Things that I want them to know.

"They also laugh when I say
More 'decorum' is what we need.
I wrote the book on propriety.
If only people would follow my lead.

"I couldn't wait to fire Sessions.
That man didn't have my back.
I have a new guy, Whitiker;
He'll be picking up the slack.

"It makes me furious when people say
I am paranoid and deluded.
They're afraid of all my power.
THAT is what I have concluded.

"Now I'm going to California
To show them what it really takes
To stop all these nasty fires:
All they need is a bunch of rakes."

-by Bob B (11-17-18)

Ari was not different to me.
Kids said, "He is Jewish." So?
I thought to myself. What does that mean?
That was long, long ago.

To me he was a classmate, a kid,
A friend, a neighbor, someone who
Played just like the other kids.
What did it matter if he was a Jew?

That was back when people had "cooties."
Do people have cooties anymore?
If people want to dislike others,
They'll come up with reasons galore:

Different religion, different race,
****** orientation, gender,
The way we talk, or whether we
Are overweight or overly slender.

People will find someone to fear,
Someone to shun, someone to tease,
Someone to scorn, someone to laugh at
And made to feel ill at ease.

We humans! What a bunch
Of silly, crazy, mixed-up fools--
Intolerant, insecure,
Defensive, uptight, as stubborn as mules!

From generation to generation
The cycle continues as parents tell
Their kids whom to hate and like.
Ah, yes, they teach their children well.

Praise to the parents with open minds
Who teach their kids to love, not hate.
That is the key to break the cycle
Of hatred that we perpetuate.

Loving parents guide their children
In loving ways. Such parents show them
The key to understanding others:
To open up and get to know them.

- by Bob B (12-18-16)

People often think that I’m weird
Because I love to read
German grammar and usage texts.
Okay, I concede:
 
It’s not normal to read through
Such books from cover to cover;
But it’s not so strange when you are considered
A German language lover.
 
It also makes sense when one’s
A German language learner
To read a book most people consider
NOT a real page turner.
 
But German—Ach!—I love the language;
I love to speak it and hear it.
I love how it bounces off the tongue.
(It’s a shame that some won’t go near it.)
 
The language really tickles my ears;
To me it doesn’t sound snooty.
Because of its crispness and clarity, I
Appreciate its beauty.
 
Unlike the Italians, the Germans don’t
Talk with their hands.
They also don’t sound like drill sergeants
Shouting out commands.
 
And Germans, unlike speakers of English,
Don’t confuse “her” with “she”;
They also don’t have a problem knowing
When to use “I” or “me.”
 
The German language sounds fresh and vivid,
Vivacious, spirited, and zestful.
It’s not a language that lulls you to sleep
In a manner quiet and restful.
 
Listen to the great German poems
That go back many years
By Eichendorff, Goethe, and Heine.
Music to my ears!
 
Don’t forget that English is
A Germanic language. It’s true!
But now a lot of our words come from Latin
And other languages, too.
 
When I’m feeling down in the dumps,
Sad or a little morose,
All I need to perk me up
Is German in a large dose.
 
Beauty is in the eye of the viewer;
That idea holds sway.
It’s also in the ear of the listener.
What more can I say?

- by Bob B

My father's life ended twice:
First, on the day my mom passed away;
Next, when he took his last breath of air
Three months later to the day.

The year was 1998.
How long ago it seems! And yet
So many vivid memories
Make it a year I'll never forget.

Tangled up in straps and tubes
In ICU, my dad spent
His final month lying supine
While monitors beeped and tracked his descent.

Pneumonia for an emphysemic
Is not a kind and welcome friend.
A ventilator served as lungs
And breathed for Dad until the end.

A man who'd always loved ideas
And words, the poor guy had no choice:
Unable to speak because of equipment,
A pad of paper became his voice.

"You've got a strong heart," I said,
Trying to make his spirits rise.
"Too strong," he wrote. I looked away
So he wouldn't see the tears in my eyes.

While standing there, all I could see
Was a man who'd devoted many years
To serving others, challenging our brains,
Making us laugh, assuaging our fears.

I heard him reading us bedtime stories,
Correcting our grammar, playing word games,
Arguing politics with his friends,
Discussing Dickens, Hardy, and James.

I saw a man alone in a car,
Within the glow of a theater marquee,
Patiently waiting late at night
To pick up my friends and me.

I saw him working multiple jobs,
Fixing the plumbing, knocking down walls,
Remodeling the bathroom, and on the courts
Smacking the hell out of tennis *****.

Now in his deep blue eyes I could see
A question impossible to dismiss:
"Why after a life so full
Do we THEN have to end up like this?"

Any inkling of an answer
Was stifled with a grimace and frown
As death was tugging at his sleeve
And his body was slowly shutting down.

Life has bitter ironies
That we often bemoan or bewail.
We want to explain the inexplicable.
Our efforts are to no avail.

- by Bob B

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (2-9-22)

How I look at the world each day
Is a curious interplay
Of fire and earth, cadent and fixed,
And often my impressions are mixed.
The world entices me from the cocoon
Of my Leo Sun and my Taurus Moon.

How I shine and how I feel…
To find a balance would be ideal.
The goal, of course, is to do what's right;
The nuances are ever so slight.
It's just a matter of being in tune
With my Leo Sun and my Taurus Moon.

Although I'm more complex than this,
Their strong influence is hard to miss.
Understanding who I am
Partly comes from the diagram
Of what occurs when they commune--
My Leo Sun and my Taurus Moon.

It isn't just as simple as that--
My Sun and Moon both having a chat.
It might make me ill at ease
To ignore the many intricacies
Of aspecting planets. Never jejune
Are my Leo Sun and my Taurus Moon.

Add my Rising Sign and see
How other people look at me.
Virgo adds more earth to tame
And somewhat soften my Leo flame.
There's no reason to ever impugn
My Leo Sun and my Taurus Moon.

Finding answers within and without
Helps to dispel the burden of doubt.
Tools to study the self abound;
What we discover can be profound.
Knowledge of self comes never too soon
With my Leo Sun and my Taurus Moon.

-by Bob B (4-19-22)

My memories give me a great deal of comfort,
And every single one of them mends
My heart, which suffers from the loss
Of family, relatives, and friends.

Ah, those glorious days we spent
Together as we journeyed through life,
Sharing love, laughter, and cheer,
And sometimes struggles through storm and strife.

Lifetimes have varied--some were cut short
Long before we'd ever expected.
They are considered short stories
Among life's stories that we've collected.

Others have been more fortunate.
Their lives are Russian novels, I'd say.
They lived through multiple generations--
Their skin grew wrinkled; their hair turned gray.

Some folks plan to reunite
With loved ones for all eternity.
Others are more inclined to believe
The idea: whatever will be, will be.

Of course, we'd rather have the departed
With us, and in a way they are.
The light of their being shines on us
As does the light of a distant star.

Therefore, take comfort in memories--
A gentle balm that after a while
Will ease your anguish, lessen your pain,
Dry your tears, and make you smile.

-by Bob B (1-4-23)

My memories give me a lot of comfort,
And every single one of them mends
My heart, which suffers from the loss
Of family, relatives, and friends.

Ah, those glorious days we spent
Together as we journeyed through life,
Sharing love, laughter, and cheer,
And sometimes struggles through storm and strife.

Lifetimes have varied--some were cut short
Long before we'd ever expected.
They are considered short stories
Among life's stories that we've collected.

Others have been more fortunate.
Their lives are Russian novels, I'd say.
They lived through multiple generations--
Their skin grew wrinkled; their hair turned gray.

Some folks plan to reunite
With loved ones for all eternity.
Others are more inclined to believe
The idea: whatever will be will be.

Of course, we'd rather have the departed
With us, and in a way they are.
The light of their being shines on us
As does the light of a distant star.

Therefore, take comfort in memories--
A gentle balm that after a while
Will ease your anguish, lessen your pain,
Dry your tears, and make you smile.

-by Bob B (1-4-23)

(For some reason, I found this poem in my DRAFTS. I guess I hadn't "published" it for public eyes, and it sat, along with 25 or so of my other poems, in my DRAFTS folder until today. Sorry about the delay.)

New Year's resolutions
Normally aren't worth making,
Since they tend to be
Something we're usually breaking.

I've decided Whoa!
To self-deprivation
And unnecessary
Guilt and indignation.

My resolution this year
Is to daily devour
As many sweets as possible.
(Preferably on the hour.)

The ideal situation
Would be for me to sate
My appetite for confections
Without gaining weight.

All those pastries and donuts
Might not be so cheap.
But THIS is a resolution
That shouldn't be hard to keep.

- by Bob B (1-1-17)

My grandfather used to think
That reading wasn't doing.
Keeping busy with projects was
The path that's worth pursuing.

For him, reading was what he did
When all his work was done.
At that point he could sit and relax
And have a little fun.

I, however, feel that reading
And doing are one and the same.
I can read for hours and hours
And not feel an ounce of shame.

Reading exercises the brain
And is an active pursuit.
One could hope the activity
Would open the mind to boot.

True, sometimes I read too much--
Maybe more than I should--
And chores end up on the back burner.
That's not always good.

But I cannot imagine a world
Without reading and books.
And Grandfather's no longer around
To give me ***** looks.

-by Bob B (8-19-23)

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "Maria" from WEST SIDE STORY.)(See YouTube link below.)

DJT:
My Sharpie…
The most wonderful thing I've ever held:
My Sharpie, my Sharpie, my Sharpie, my Sharpie.
All the benefits surrounding it are unparalleled.
My Sharpie, my Sharpie, my Sharpie, my Sharpie…
My Sharpie! My Sharpie!
My Sharpie!
I love what I do with my Sharpie.
We can pull together
Changes in the weather.
You'll see.
My Sharpie!
I've just made a mark with my Sharpie,
And it can be arranged:
History can be changed
By me.
My Sharpie!
Hold it tight and there's no denying
That its power is so mystifying.
My Sharpie…
I'll never stop crying: My Sharpie!
My Sharpie! My Sharpie! My Sharpie! My Sharpie!
My Sharpie! My Sharpie! My Sharpie! My Sharpie!
My Sharpie!
Hold it tight and there's no denying
That its power is so mystifying.
My Sharpie…
I'll never stop crying: My Sharpie!
The most wonderful thing I've ever held:
My Sharpie!

-by Bob B (9-6-19)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DyofWTw0bqY&t=23s

D.T.:
Why does everybody
Always want to see
My tax returns?
If I could have a secret,
It really ought to be
My tax returns.
Inflating values to get your loans:
There is really nothing to it.
Deflating values to lower taxes:
Doesn’t everybody do it?

Why do prosecutors
Want to have in hand
My tax returns?
I don’t think it’s fair
That they can all demand
My tax returns.
When you’re rich, doesn’t that mean
You should get a little break?
I’m in trouble mainly because
I give far less than I take.

I’m being hassled
‘Cause I want to hide
My tax returns.
Judges are stupid
To say I must provide
My tax returns.
If they say I committed fraud,
I’ll say that’s just fake news.
If they try to make me talk,
I will simply refuse!

I know that my fans
Don’t give a hoot about
My tax returns.
I can cheat and they’ll say that’s okay.
Winning means having all the right tools
To maneuver your way around the rules.
I’m *******
Because I have to show
MY TAX RETURNS!

-by Bob B (2-26-21)

Problems can be small;
Problems can be big.
I'm having a problem
With my thingamajig.

Too much information,
Some might say.
But it's a kind of problem
You can't wish away.

When they are new,
They work like a dream.
Everything flows
In a steady stream.

But as they get older,
Like many things--I swear--
They start showing
A lot of wear and tear.

I'm sure you could
Make a funny quip;
But it isn't funny
When they start to drip.

One could try to stop
The dripping with one's hand.
But obviously,
It won't go as planned.

I often wonder what
Freud might have said.
The problem's not unique;
It's fairly widespread.

It really doesn't help
To squeeze it or strike it.
Where can I find
Another one just like it?

There HAS to be someone
Who could repair it.
Or do I have to
Simply grin and bear it?

I can't ignore the problem;
It won't disappear.
A LEAKY FAUCET is
A pain in the rear!

- by Bob B (3-18-17)

Twenty twenty-one is now
Behind us and we're moving on.
But sadly we are starting out
This brand new year with Omicron.

Concerned individuals
Observe the facts and then implore us
To put our heads together to deal
With challenges that lie before us:

Catastrophes from climate change,
Threats to our democracy,
COVID variants running rampant,
Distrust and religious hypocrisy….

Also, wherever you look these days,
You'll notice many a trend-setter--
The toxic, obstreperous type who feels
The more obnoxious you are the better.

Lies spread like wildfire.
Far too many people pursue them
And let them color their fantasies
Instead of trying to see right through them.

And so we have a giant task:
To spread the truth and let it guide us--
To put more faith into checking facts
And not let fallacies divide us.

So that's my VOW if I may have
A vow for 2022--
Mainly because relying on reason
Is surely the proper thing to do.

-by Bob B (1-1-22)

Twenty twenty-one is now
Behind us and we're moving on.
But sadly we are starting out
This brand new year with Omicron.

Concerned individuals
Observe the facts and then implore us
To put our heads together to deal
Wtih challenges that lie before us:

Catastrophes from climate change,
Threats to our democracy,
COVID variants running rampant,
Distrust and religious hypocrisy….

Also, wherever you look these days,
You'll notice many a trend-setter--
The toxic, obstreperous type who feels
The more obnoxious you are the better.

Lies spread like wildfire.
Far too many people pursue them
And let them color their fantasies
Instead of trying to see right through them.

And so we have a giant task:
To spread the truth and let it guide us--
To put more faith into checking facts
And not let fallacies divide us.

So that's my VOW if I may have
A vow for 2022--
Mainly because relying on reason
Is surely the proper thing to do.

-by Bob B (1-1-22)

(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.)

(Sung to the melody of Frank Sinatra's "My Way")

And so, I'm standing here
To say an oath and pledge allegiance.
Though some will cry and jeer
And accuse me of malfeasance,

The fact that I can stand
Before you now in a tough-guy way
Proves that you can be like me
By doing things my way.

Yes, I've stiffed a few,
But that's my disposition.
That's what you have to do
To carry forth your mission.

I knew what I was doing;
I was acting in a sly way.
Just do what I tell you
And do things my way.

You might not like the things I say
Or what I do, but that's okay.
Celebs like me have it made.
Just don't drop the masquerade.
It's all the same; just play the game
And do things my way.

I've had three wives. So what!
I've had just two divorces.
The news? Don't watch that ****.
I've found better sources.

I didn't get this far
By choosing the just-get-by way.
Since life is dog eat dog
Just do things my way.

You never know who you can *****
Until you shift your point of view.
Remember: *****, before you're *******.
At times be crass; at times be lewd.
Make up the rules; treat them like fools
By doing things my way.

Yes, do things my way.

- by Bob B (1-19-17)

When Nancy smiled, the world smiled.
There is naught that can erase
Her smile that's etched into my heart--
A smile that brightly lit up her face.

Think of a lustrous beam of light
That blissfully penetrates
A pitch-black night or darkest gloom--
That rapturously radiates.

Such a beam was Nancy's charm;
Such a beam was Nancy's smile.
How I envy her effortless laugh,
Her quick wit, her perky style!

Three daughters left behind
Inherited their mother's charming
Traits: her wit, her zest for life,
Her smile so radiant and disarming.

More than once Nancy faced
Close calls but vanquished death.
While paying one more visit, the thief
Absconded with her final breath.

I hope that when my end draws near,
I can be as calm, as brave.
I hope that I can take with me
Her beautiful smile to my grave.

-by Bob B (3-8-19)

Ah, pancakes, hot off the griddle--
Buttermilk pancakes, oozing with butter
And drowning in gooey maple syrup.
Oh, my goodness! My heart’s all aflutter.

Forget the eggs, bacon, and sausage;
Let the flapjacks fill my plate.
I intend to savor every
Delicious bite to celebrate.

Got blueberries? Get them out.
Stir them into the sumptuous batter.
Serve the cakes for breakfast, lunch,
Or even dinner; it doesn’t matter.

A few carbs, a little sugar…
I don’t care. What the hay?
I’m enjoying a piece of heaven.
Happy National Pancake Day!

-by Bob B (3-4-20)

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (8-13-20)

Oscar Martínez and Angie Valeria,
A father and daughter from El Salvador,
Came to our border seeking asylum.
Their voices will not be heard anymore

Turned away at the border the father,
Mother, and daughter left in despair.
Desperation makes us take risks
Whenever our future is up in the air.

The Rio Grande near Matamoros
Proved not to be the family's friend.
Swept away in the rushing current,
Father and daughter both met their end.

Farewell to Oscar and Angie Valeria.
Let's hope that their deaths will not be in vain.
Urgency should call us to action:
Our treatment of others should be more humane.

Helpless, the frantic mother stood watching,
Feeling the pain that life can deliver.
The bodies of her two loved ones were found
In the murky waters near the bank of the river.

Who's passing blame or pointing a finger?
Who's going to turn a blind eye to sorrow?
How many more asylum seekers
Will lose their lives today or tomorrow?

Farewell to Oscar and Angie Valeria.
Let's hope that their deaths will not be in vain.
Urgency should call us to action:
Our treatment of others should be more humane.

-by Bob B (6-27-19)

(This poem can be sung to the melody of the old folk song "Tom Dooley.")

(chorus)
What did you want, Ned Kelly?°
What gave you grounds for hope?
Well, Ned, it can't be fun when
You're hanging from a rope.

Bushranger°° Harry Power…
Was he a loyal mate?
They say he was your mentor
Who led you to your fate.

Victims of persecution--
That's what you said you were.
Victims of your gang's horse theft
Would not at all concur.

Bush larrikins°°° were suspect.
Rather than get a job
You chose a different path when
You joined the Greta Mob.

Some say you were a hero
Who thought he was doing good.
You said the poor need justice;
You were their Robin Hood.

Others call you an outlaw,
Killer, and evil guy.
You killed with no compunction,
So you deserved to die.

(chorus)
What did you want, Ned Kelly?°
What gave you grounds for hope?
Well, Ned, it can't be fun when
You're hanging from a rope.

Your gang shot three policemen
Camped at Stringybark Creek.
Who then would put a stop to
Your game of hide and seek?

You murdered Aaron Sherritt;°°°°
You thought he was a snitch.
Maybe you learned your lesson:
Karma could be a *****.

There at your final shootout
You lost your loyal friends.
Well, Ned, you learned that it was
Too late to make amends.

Right after you were sentenced,
Your judge made it his goal
To say he hoped that God would
Have mercy on your soul.

What he said didn't faze you.
You countered blow for blow.
You turned to him and said, "I'll
See you there where I go."

They led you to the gallows.
Different reporters said
What words you might have spoken
Before the rope fell, Ned.

(chorus)
What did you want, Ned Kelly?°
What gave you grounds for hope?
Well, Ned, it can't be fun when
You're hanging from a rope.

-by Bob B (5-16-24)

°Famous Australian outlaw (1854-1880)
°°Australians who took up "robbery under arms" and used the bush as their base
°°°Rowdies who defied social and political conventions
°°°°An associate of Ned Kelly's gang of outlaws

I'm not at all desirous of Heaven;
Nor do I have a fear of Hell.
That we end up in either place
Is--to me--a very hard sell.

Some believe in purgatory--
Another place that lies in between
The other two. End up there
And you are given the chance to come clean.

Many people long to know
That a certain sense of justice prevails--
That we must pay for any wrongdoing.
They try to spell out what that entails:

Doing good and having specific
Beliefs will help you secure a place
In some heavenly realm where you
Will suffer no longer and live in grace.

But if that isn't the path for you,
Then, oh, no, heaven forbid!
You will have to face punishment
For all the evil things that you did.

It's both a lure and a scare tactic.
That's what the concept seems to me.
It's almost as though we go through life
Behaving like a parolee.

Is human nature such that we need
To receive a punishment or reward
For being bad or good, which applies
To everybody across the board?

Wouldn't it be enough to say
That being bad is wrong for you,
While doing good is appropriate
Merely because it's the right thing to do?

Is human nature also such
That people feel that by and large
No one should reap the benefits
Of anything out there free of charge?

And good and bad--for goodness’ sake--
Are relative, to say the least.
And ludicrous it is to think
That anyone bears the "mark of the beast."

After we die, returning to what
We were before we were born makes sense.
Ultimately, since no one knows
For sure, we all remain in suspense.

-by Bob B (7-5-22)

Never again! Chant with us:
Never again! No more!
Let your urgent demands echo
From north to south, from shore to shore.

Never again must we suffer
From ****** massacres at our schools.
Whoever thinks that thoughts and prayers
Suffice only takes us for fools.

We are tired of candlelight vigils
Held at our schools to honor the dead.
We refuse to tolerate
Living in fear of another code red.

When we're offered a bill of goods
That shootings come with the territory--
That stricter laws have no effect--
We are out to change that story.

We refuse to accept a world
Where shootings have become the norm.
We will support lawmakers who
Advocate gun-law reform.

Doing nothing leads to nothing.
Despite our loss, hope survives.
Put an end to living in fear.
Join us as we march for our lives!

Another school massacre here
Must NOT be a question of when.
The only response that we accept
Is Never again! Never again!

-by Bob B (2-22-18)

I think a lot of progress could be made
If certain people were not so afraid
To come up with what COULD be a solution
And say it is a New Year's resolution.

The January 6 investigation
Explored how mobs of misfits shook this nation.
Trump's indictment for his contribution
Should be someone's New Year's resolution.

Politicians when they're making laws
Have donors who give money for a cause.
That's equivalent to prostitution.
Make fixing that a New Year's resolution.

House Republicans are out to get
Anyone whom they see as a threat.
When THEY'RE in charge, they threaten prosecution.
Vote them out: a New Year's resolution!

Some states make it hard for us to vote.
To stop that we must find an antidote.
Such a task will not be Lilliputian.
But that could make a New Year's resolution.

Climate change is getting worse each day.
If we don't act, we're going to have to pay.
We should want to see its diminution.
Let's make that a New Year's resolution.

So think of all the things that we could do
To make conditions great for me and you.
It all boils down to finding good solutions
And making them our New Year's resolutions.

-by Bob B (12-31-22)

Mr. Trump, for many years
We've watched you disregard the rules.
But tell us: what do you take us for--
A groveling, ignorant bunch of fools?

Making an early campaign announcement
For you, of course, is apropos,
And surely it is a way for you
To rake in tons and tons of dough.

You love the spotlight. Yes, you do.
But, frankly, that should give you pause,
For don't you realize that what
The spotlight does is point out your flaws?

Because of your lies, the nonsense you spout,
And your general lack of humility,
People see you less as a help
And more as a threat or liability.

We know that you have always carried
A hey!-it's-all-about-ME card,
But running for president doesn't give you
A get-out-of-jail-FREE card.

Investigations will still go on
Despite your bold but feeble attempt
To skirt the laws from which no one--
Not even YOU--should be exempt.

You and your cohorts, such as Bannon,
Will take your donors for a ride.
All we can say is, "Nice try, Trump.
Good luck finding a place to hide."

-by Bob B (11-16-22)

As he assembles his team, Trump
Is as extreme as extreme could be,
Surrounding himself with controversy
In practically every nominee.

General Flynn, whose hothead ideas
And out-of-the-mainstream policies reflect
An extreme anti-Muslim stance,
Is very dangerous if he's unchecked.

Stephen Bannon with his alt-right,
Scary white-supremacist ties
And wacky conspiracy theory ideas
Is someone that people of conscience despise.

Jeff Sessions was deemed too racist
In 1986 and so
Say good-bye to advances made
In civil rights since long ago.

And then there's Jared Kushner. When
Trump wants advice, he's there. Ta da!
Who is going to be running this country--
Donald Trump or his son-in-law?

It's hard to believe that in these times
Our civil rights would be under attack.
The people won't allow a team
Of political hacks to turn the clock back.

If Trump and his team go unrestrained
And no wise heads intervene,
They will ignite civil unrest,
The likes of which we've never seen.

- by Bob B (11-19-16)

Noah was righteous (though maybe
A bit of a stick in the mud),
So God decided to save him
And his family from the great flood.
 
Again going over the instructions
After building his ark,
He had a couple of questions
Before they could embark.
 
“It says here that I need two
Of every living thing.
But I have some misgivings:
That’s going to be hard to swing.
 
“What’s this about a pl...platypus,
And penguin and k...kangaroo?
And I need to find two skunks.
What am I going to do?
 
“If I don’t find these animals,
They’ll think my work is a sham.
Ah, I know what I’ll do:
I’ll delegate this job to Ham.
 
“But first, another question
Is going to be hard to solve,
And that is the problem of food
And what it is going to involve.
 
“‘All food eaten on Earth’
Has to be on our boat.
With all that food and the animals,
How will we stay afloat?
 
“There’s another problem:
My lions aren’t nice and sweet,
And they have a strong preference
For gazelle and antelope meat.
 
“Cramped in so tight a space,
I hope we all don’t smother.
How will I keep the animals
From eating one another?”
 
He gave his list to Ham
And said, “I’ve found you some work.
I’ve got too much on my mind,
And it’s driving me berserk.”
 
Then Ham elicited help
From brothers Japheth and Shem.
No one else was available
To help him aside from them.
 
There were millions of species
Of animals that they had to find!
They’d be in a lot of trouble
If they left any behind.
 
Noah’s curse on Ham
Didn’t come till much later.
Meanwhile Ham had a few
Questions for his pater.
 
“Now, about this floodwater—
I'm not disrespecting your wishes—
Will it be salty or fresh?
It makes a difference to fishes.
 
“And for forty days and nights
We’ll be floating around;
When the waters recede,
Won’t all the plants have drowned?”
 
Noah said, “Don’t even go there!
There’s no time to stall.
Let’s get a move on before
Raindrops start to fall.”

- by Bob B

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (1-12-22)

Trump is looking for a showdown,
Repeating his tired and weary refrain:
How to inflame a situation
So he can obtain political gain.

Amping up the ICE raids here
In California: his newest plan.
He wants to show the people that
He's in charge--that he's the MAN.

Equating migrants with evil doers--
A racist and dangerous equation--
He says he's going to "liberate"
L.A. from a "migrant invasion."

He knew that scary raids by ICE--
His cruel, scummy, and constant fixation--
Would anger people, and thugs would take
Advantage of the situation.

He'll say the state can't solve its problems
Of violence. "However, they'll see
That I can fix it by sending in troops.
Everyone, bow down to me."

Protests had been peaceful for months,
But Trump right now is overjoyed.
To see how sick the man has become,
You don't have to be a Sigmund Freud.

Pursuing his political goals--
Let's call this "The Dictator Hour"--
He's shattering norms, one by one,
And bypassing any limits on power.

He's setting California up,
Knowing what would come about.
He loves to start a fire and then
Employ theatrics to put it out.

-by Bob B (6-9-25)

Alabamian Roy Moore,
Known as the 10 Commandments judge,
And whose reputation a conscientious
Person would certainly never begrudge,

Has been accused of child molestation--
Something that happened years ago.
But such incidents often surface
Many years later, as we all know.

For violating judicial ethics,
Twice he's been thrown off the bench.
His need for wearing a mask of morality
Is a thirst that he can't quench.

He's been quoted as having said
That 9/11 and Sandy Hook
Resulted because of God's vengeance.
His madness is hard to overlook.

He allegedly liked young girls.
At least that's what we have been told.
According to a recent report,
One was even fourteen-years-old.

Of course he denies it (of course he would)
And says it's fake news--a nasty plot
To smear his character. He wants us
To think that he is something he's not.

Alabamian voters, they say,
Will likely still vote for Moore,
And probably would even if
The man had accusations galore.

He speaks into his mic while standing
Before his fans in a cowboy hat.
They would prefer a *******
To--heaven forbid--a Democrat!

-by Bob B (11-11-17)

No one has a monopoly on God.
When you hear them say that they do,
Make a dash for it! Don't wait around
For them to impose their merciless coup.
 
No group has a monopoly on truth.
Of those who say they "know" be skeptical.
If their "knowledge" can't stand up to questioning,
Their mind isn't more than an empty receptacle.
 
Terror and fear make desperate converts.
Truth and wisdom transcend petty goals.
Some will try to sell you a bill
Of goods that's full of vagaries and holes.
 
Beware of those with the gift of gab
Who promise to guide you down a path
Of slick salvation and tempting allurements,
Though one false step incurs God's wrath.
 
Beware of those who say they know
The mind of God both inside and out
And curse your attempts at inquiry
When with an open mind you doubt.

No one has the right to judge you
And tell you that you're going to hell.
Watch out for the crazed fanatic
And the sanctimonious ne'r-do-well.
 
Put everything into perspective.
Love and compassion should be your course.
Belief should be all about choice
And definitely not a product of force.

- by Bob B

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (8-11-22)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (12-21-21)

When reading this poem, I hope you can see
When we should use "Not I" or "Not me."
The context determines what should be said.
I hope I don't have you scratching your head.

If somebody asks, "Who's a good dancer?"
Please do not let "Not me" be your answer.
If you are NOT, then you should reply,
"I'm not," or simply respond with "Not I."

However, if somebody asks, "Last week,
Who(m) did Marisol kiss on the cheek?"
IF "She didn't kiss me" is how
You'd answer, "Not me" is sufficient right now.

"Who wants this book?" "Not I" you'd say
If you do not want the book today.
"Who(m) did Mario call a ****?"
He DIDN'T dis YOU? "Not me" then would work.

Didn't you learn "Not I" as I did
When being read to as a young kid?
"Who'll help?" asks the little red hen with a cluck.
"Not I," say the dog, the cat, and the duck.

As you can see, it all depends
On what one means--on what one intends.
Whichever expression you use will suffice,
But one's always clearer and much more precise.

-by Bob B (6-20-23)

It's said that a dog is "man's best friend."
To me they're a pain in the ****.
Usually, when I see a dog,
I see a mangy mutt.

Yipping, barking, slobbering, howling,
Shedding, pooping, and such,
Dogs are very high maintenance creatures,
Which can be a bit much.

I cringe when they run up to me
And want to spray them with mace
When after licking their rear, they try
To lick me in the face.

And cleaning up after them? My goodness!
It would make me gag
To pick up a giant pile of ****
With my hand in a plastic bag.

They can let the smelliest farts.
Granted, so can we.
But we can leave the room, or at least
Say, "Please pardon me."

And when they get sick, they crap all over
And ***** and make a mess.
It makes me want to throw up as well
And find a rapid egress.

Sometimes they'll ruin household items
By chewing on this or that.
And I will scream the loudest curse
Whenever I step where they shat.

Some dogs are much more tolerable
Than others, I'll admit.
If I pet one, I'm being nice
And not a hypocrite.

Dogs, I know, bring lots of joy
To people's lives. That's fine.
But I expect their pets to behave.
That's the bottom line.

I'm sure I'm in the minority
To feel the way I do.
But everyone has the right to share
His or her point of view.

Dog lovers will probably say
I'm just a grumpy old man.
Perhaps, but when it comes to dogs,
I'm simply not a fan.

-by Bob B (1-26-24)

"Not my president!"
The protesters incant
As they take to the streets.
We hear them loudly chant,

"Not my president!"
In cities nationwide
Their voices all in unison
Become amplified.

"Not my president!"
The marchers hold in disdain
Recent election results.
The ongoing refrain

"Not my president!"
Echoes across the nation,
As demonstrators express
Their cries of protestation.

"Not my president!"
What makes democracy great
Is we have the right to vote
And the right to demonstrate.

(11-10-16)

We aren't out of the woods
Regarding the COVID pandemic.
One thing isn't helping:
The anti-vaccine polemic.

Despite our efforts to get
The virus under control,
Dis- and misinformation
Are taking a heavy toll.

If all had worked together
From the very start
To stop the virus from spreading,
Well, THAT would've been smart.

"MY body my choice,"
Some people will say,
As if that's going to make
The virus go away.

By not taking precautions,
The non-vaccinee
Can spread mutated strains
Of the virus to you and me.

Where COVID is spreading fast,
And the number of cases is sizable,
According to the experts,
The wearing of masks is advisable.

Some people think
That wearing a mask is futile.
Don't they realize
That COVID can be brutal?

No, wearing a mask
Isn't fun, but still,
It does offer protection
From something that can ****.

It isn't rocket science.
Listen to the pros.
Get your vaccination,
And cover your mouth and nose.

-by Bob B (7-29-21)

A farmer was getting fed up with a fox.
He despised him like the dickens.
The fox prowled around his farm
Every night and ate his chickens.

And so the farmer set a trap
And caught the fox and said, "Aha!
You're going to regret all you've done.
This attempt was your last hurrah."

To get his revenge, the farmer tied
A bunch of flax to the fox's tail,
Set it on fire, and let him go,
Saying, "My revenge can't fail!"

The fox ran straight for the farmer's field
Where the corn was growing tall.
The fields were almost ready for cutting,
For summer was slowly turning to fall.

As you probably figured out,
All of the farmer's fields caught fire.
His crops were destroyed and he lost his harvest--
A situation extremely dire.

The fox? Well, he survived
And went away of his own accord.
The farmer, broken and devastated,
Learned that revenge is a two-edged sword.

-by Bob B (8-23-21)

°An Aesop fable, "The Farmer and the Fox," retold here in verse

The foundation of selfishness
Has much to do with wanting and desiring
And places a heavy focus on
Thoughts of obtaining and acquiring.

The instinctive ego takes control
And motivations become self-centered.
We're often heedless and unaware
Of the shadowy place that we have entered.

Naturally, self-centeredness
Colors what we think and do;
But NOT wanting and NOT desiring,
On the other hand, can be selfish, too.

Wanting: selfish? Not wanting: selfish?
How--we might ask--does that make sense?
NOT wanting may substantiate
Our way of life at others' expense:

Not wanting others to share the same freedoms;
Not wanting others to have the same rights;
Being silent when seeing injustice;
Ignoring people's struggles and plights;

Not acknowledging the efforts of others;
Not desiring to work toward peace;
Not wanting to know oneself;
Not caring if hatreds cease;

Being indifferent to the happiness of others;
Not allowing others to progress;
Not wanting to know how to fix
Our planet once we've made a huge mess.

NOT wanting in many ways
Speaks as loudly as word or deed,
And we become helpless victims
Of our sad and varying levels of greed.

What motivates us really?
Do we know, or do we care?
Is it safer NOT to know?
It might seem so, but beware.

- by Bob B

An odd prayer to say at bedtime--
Especially for the children's sake--
Is one that has them saying each night
"If I should die before I wake."

“Die before I wake”? Oh, no!
That is not a comforting thought—
That all my efforts to live and breathe
This very night could come to naught?

So when the kiddies say the prayer
"Now I lay me down to sleep…,"
Just imagine all the thoughts
That into little heads might creep:

Thoughts rekindling many fears--
Of ghouls ******* out their breath,
Of monsters crawling out of the closet,
Of countless things that might cause death.

And after that, while the children's
Imaginations are on a roll,
They think that from a distant place
A "lord" is going to take their soul.

How can that be comforting?
Wouldn't something life-affirming
Be much more appropriate
And not have little bed goers squirming?

Something giving them joy and hope,
Something that will help them thrive
And learn to appreciate the world
And thus feel lucky to be alive?

Are little ones still saying that prayer?
Are there parents who still demand it?
I guess that one would have to be
A praying sort to understand it.

Now I lay me down to sleep,
I hope I won't be counting sheep.
Let's ALL have pleasant dreams instead,
And wake up glad that we aren't dead.

-by Bob B (12-31-24)

The DNC commenced last night,
And wow, what a shot in the arm!
Mr. Trump had better watch out!
He must feel a sense of alarm.

How refreshing it is to feel
Optimistic once again!
Enlightening, it was like
Experiencing a moment of Zen!

Dignity, decency,
Love, integrity, and truth
Were key words mentioned last night.
Let's hope they inspire our youth.

Women's right to make their choices
Regarding their bodies was a theme.
And how to control corporate greed
Should be more than just a dream.

Celebrating our common purpose
And selfless leadership as well
Made the atmosphere electric
And cast a thrilling, uplifting spell.

Giving praise to diversity
And honoring the working class
Were key last night, along with the hope
Of shattering the ceiling of glass.

When Hillary spoke--oh, my goodness!--
No doubt about it: she was on fire.
Hearing such a powerful speech
Is something of which I never tire.

President Biden was recognized.
Graciously, he passed the baton
To Harris, who will lead us forth.
It's no longer Joe versus Don.

We can see a brand new light.
The bright future will contrast
With Trump's barely illuminated
Journey back to a dismal past.

Freedom and democracy
Are entering a new dimension.
What a motivation for voters!
What a way to start a convention!

-by Bob B (8-20-24)

Try to observe anger.
See how it arises.
Look at its components
And see what it comprises.
 
Does it contain the ego's
Selfishness and insecurity?
If so, a knee-**** response
Reflects our immaturity.
 
Watch it from different angles.
Observe its essential lack
Of substance or palpability;
Anger’s a tough nut to crack.
 
Look at it in the face.
Grasp it before it grasps you.
And yet, there’s nothing to grasp
When its true nature comes through.
 
It’s natural to witness anger
In varying amounts.
The key is what we do then:
The way we respond is what counts.
 
If anger’s converted to wisdom,
Then let that wisdom guide us
To act in compassionate ways—
To unite us and not divide us.

- by Bob B