COVID-19 hasn't left us.
In fact, it's becoming major league
As people grow weary of taking precautions
And slowly give in to pandemic fatigue.

It doesn't help when misinformation
Spreads as rapidly as the disease.
The virus doesn't sing just one song;
Over and over it sings a reprise.

It also doesn't help when people--
Especially when presidents--
Fail to heed the warnings and keep
Having super-spreader events.

Granted, humans are social beings.
But sadly we will pay the price
If our myopia keeps us from making
A necessary sacrifice.

You could get the virus and be
One of the lucky ones. It's true.
Mild symptoms could possibly be
The worst thing that happens to you.

Or you could have a full-fledged case
That could come with a large price tag
As you succumb to the illness and leave
The hospital in a body bag.

Even when there are mild cases,
There have been revelations
That in the future people could have
Unexpected complications.

Listen to the experts out there
And not to distracting words of the quacks.
By following simple measures we
Can stop the virus in its tracks.

Let's not fall into the trap
And think that the dangers are overblown.
The life you save by being careful
Might not merely be your own.

-by Bob B (10-18-20)

Trump thinks that his phones were tapped
During the campaign season.
If that had been the case, there had to
Have been a very good reason.

If intelligence agencies
Did indeed suspect
Questionable activity
Worthy of being checked,

Maybe they did tap his phones.
But James Clapper° denies it.
Another example of Trump crying "Wolf!"?
We know how often he tries it.

Or is it just one more distraction
To steer us away from how
Trump and certain Republican friends
Are ******* us over right now

By talking of vouchers; talking of limiting
Freedom of expression;
And making a mess of health care, which
Has been their constant obsession;

And letting people discriminate
Based on religious convictions--
An insult to equal rights and they
Can see no contradictions.

Trump's team and Russians have had
Frequent conversations.
Whatever the topics, we know they weren't
Mere congratulations.

Perhaps it's just Trump's paranoia
Coming to the fore.
What started out as a joke isn't
Funny anymore.

- by Bob B (3-5-17)

°Former Director of National Intelligence

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (1-23-25)

In the White House recently,
Reality made a strange appearance:
The president's son-in-law, Kushner,
Lost his interim security clearance.

After fourteen months in the White House
Around classified info, the kid
Saw no FULL clearance, so
The FBI must know what he did.

And then we hear that businesses
Owned by Kushner received loans
After White House meetings with
Execs. Suspicious overtones?

The loans were in the tens of millions.
Does anyone see a problem here--
A problem of conflict of interest between
A puppet and a puppeteer?

Nearby, the Secretary of HUD,
Dr. Ben Carson, happened to get
For his office a 31,000-dollar,
Fancy, new dining room set.°

This for a person who speaks out
For he has warned us in the past against
Making the lives of the poor too rosy,
Not to make housing for the poor too cozy.

So nepotism, conflicts of interest,
Hypocrisy…What else can we say
Is adding to all the chaos we see
Happening in Trumpland today?

-by Bob B (3-1-18)

°After a sizable public backlash, Carson later cancelled his dining room set order.

Greg Abbott and Ron DeSantis
Are leading the lemmings into the fire.
The two governors are throwing more
Wood onto the funeral pyre.

Each is hoping that voters will give him
Praise for his cringeworthy COVID response,
Which was never very aggressive
And always displayed more nonchalance.

Partners in carnage, they hope to score
Political points while people get sick.
And people are dying. Can't these two
Numbskulls do their arithmetic?

COVID numbers are rising again.
The delta variant is spreading fast.
And yet the two behave as though
COVID is a thing of the past.

Banning mandates for masks in schools
When numbers of cases are rising? What?
Their irresponsible, heartless, and thoughtless
Behavior is a punch in the gut.

It's all about choice, DeSantis says,
Which shows his reasoning's not so keen.
Kids don't have a choice in the matter,
For kids under twelve can't get the vaccine!

The two Republican ideologues
Do not want government "intrusion."
They are entrenched in hypocrisy
And have abandoned truth for illusion.

Patients are filling the hospitals
In both of their states--an indication
That they have a serious health crisis.
What a frightening situation!

Younger people are losing their lives
In greater numbers than before.
It makes no sense to abandon reason
And common sense as numbers soar.

DeSantis and Abbott have blood on their hands.
But, obviously, they don't care.
I'm glad they’re not my governor.
Floridians and Texans beware.

-by Bob B (8-11-21)

The president has caused a stir.
OH-ME-oh-MY-oh.
He has pardoned Arizona
Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

A man convicted of criminal contempt
Of court enjoys impunity.
He violated civil rights
At every opportunity.

Refusing to follow an order of the court,
He's a man who fudges
When it comes to obeying laws
And listening to judges.

The practice or racial profiling equals
Clear discrimination.
It looks as though it also wins
Trump's approbation.

He has called the bigoted sheriff
A "selfless public servant"--
A ludicrous description to
Those who are observant.

Is this one of many pardons
That Trump extends
To others as he pardons his
Family and friends?

Thumbing your nose at law and order--
OH-ME-oh-MY-oh--
Happens when you pardon crooks
Like Sheriff Joe Arpaio.

-by Bob B (8-26-17)

If you plan to run for an office
With an R that follows your name,
The GOP must know you are
Completely willing to play its game.

If you do not follow the rules,
You'll find that you will be hard-pressed
To win elections nationwide.
To win there is a litmus test.

You must adhere to three ideas--
Three things that you cannot do.
First, opposing Trump's election
Lies would be the end of you.

Next, you cannot criticize
The U.S. Capitol insurrection
Of January 6 last year.
Condemn it and you'll face rejection.

Finally, if you oppose
Political violence, you will see
That you just don't fit in at all
With the current GOP.

A cult of personality
Is what the Party has become.
Winning culture wars is now
The Party's golden rule of thumb.

Pass the litmus test and your
Chances of winning will be greater.
Lack of integrity? What about that?
You can worry about that later.

-by Bob B (1-8-22)

I like to think that I eat well.
But eating well to me doesn't mean
That I intend to completely remove
Sugar from my daily routine.

I know that protein and grains and fruits
And veggies are vital; I like them a lot.
But sometimes a hunk of chicken or steak
Or a carrot doesn't hit the spot.

We are what we eat, people say.
I am not saying that I am a ****,
But I would rather be seen as a cream puff
Than seen as a chicken, a cow, or a pig.

"Moderation" sounds judicious,
Though it's a word that's hard to define.
Your idea of moderation
Might be completely different from mine.

If somebody said, "Add ten years
To your life by avoiding sugary treats,"
With no hesitation, I would reply,
"YOU take the years; I'LL take the sweets."

-by Bob B (11-24-19)

Have you heard of Pastor Rick Wiles?
Pastor Wacko is more apropos.
After hearing about his rants,
I'm sure he's someone I DON'T want to know.

According to him, "they" are planting
Parasite eggs within our vaccine.
Thus, an "evil cabal of people"
Will gain control through COVID-19.

Because of the Chinese medical mafia,
He got COVID, he attested.
They had infected him because
He wanted to have Dr. Fauci arrested.

Other assertions that Wiles has made:
Trump's impeachment: a "Jew coup."
Because of marriage equality,
Earth's destruction will ensue.

Queen Elizabeth is really
A "lizard person" in a disguise.
God will ****** the enemies
Of Donald Trump. What a surprise!

Because of widespread gay rights, God
Is killing chickens and pigs and bees.
Bill Clinton has brain cancer
Because he devours children. Please!

That someone like Wiles has followers
Is as crazy as crazy could be;
But anyone who believes his nonsense
Has to be as wacky as he.

-by Bob B (10-21-21)

A virulent virus spreads; everything's on pause.
Governments scramble to survive.
When leadership falters, life is more uncertain.
We see that with number Forty-five.

The president attempts to act presidential
But leaves us with a giant question mark.
At a time when honesty is needed more than ever,
We are often left out in the dark.

When leaders spout that certain things are more important
Than living, we should run the other way.
They have sold themselves to cruel heartlessness.
They're the predators and we, the prey.

We can do our best to live out our lives.
Let's not subject ourselves to blame,
Even though at times we can't help but feel
That we are merely pawns in a game.

Some governors tell us to get back to work
Before safety measures are in place.
To them we are nothing but numbers, figures--
Statistics in an deadly database.

Some irresponsible newscasters say,
"This is not so bad as it seems."
Downplaying the danger to satisfy their whims,
They hurt us all by spreading dangerous memes.

Playing with our lives, many leaders try
To judge our worth based on market price.
If we want to win, some of us must lose,
They say to us while handing us the dice.

We can do our best to live out our lives.
Let's not subject ourselves to blame,
Even though at times we can't help but feel
That we are merely pawns in a game.

-by Bob B (4-30-20)

The House has released an official report
On Matthew Gaetz, former member.
The special, unwanted Christmas gift
Was given to him this December.

Accused of having obstructed Congress
And violated House rules,
Gaetz apparently thinks that he
Can do no wrong and we are fools.

If you ask some members of Congress
To share the impression that they have had
Of Gaetz since they have gotten to know him,
They would say that he's a cad.

They learned that he paid thousands of dollars
For drug use and also for ***.
Can he deny the evidence?
I wonder if he paid with checks.

That isn't all, of course, for Gaetz's
Shocking list of infractions gets finer:
On top of everything else, he's been
Accused of having *** with a minor.

And this is the guy that Trump had wanted
To be AG! Not surprising,
For Trump would very likely think,
"Oh, he's merely womanizing."

Gaetz admits that he's sent "funds"
To women he has dated. I see.
Whatever he calls it, it sounds as though
He was paying for *** to me.

-by Bob B (12-26-24)

Nearly fourteen billion years ago
Our incredible universe clang
With an incomprehensible blast:
The super miraculous, awesome Big Bang!
 
It’s hard to fathom the age of the universe,
But even consider the age of dear Earth:
Nine billion years after the Bang
The universe witnessed our planet’s birth!
 
Despite the billions of years in the making,
Mankind’s time on this planet’s been brief.
But in our short period of time here on Earth
We’ve certainly caused our planet some grief.
 
Yes, two hundred thousand years of evolving
And look: we can walk on two legs! But despite
All of those thousands of years of development,
We still haven’t managed to get some things right!
 
To our foolish carelessness,
The demise of how many species is linked?
(To our credit, at least no one
Can say we made the dinosaurs extinct!)
 
Efforts by zoos and societies to save
Endangered species have been put in place;
At the same time we continue to threaten
Other species at a frightening pace.
 
Think of all the chopping and drilling
And digging and fracking that we’re pursuing;
Add to that the contamination:
The poisoning, spilling, and polluting we’re doing.
 
We know that Earth’s temperature is rising;
Glaciers continue to melt every day.
Weather’s more fickle with storms more destructive.
To solve this you’ll have to do more than just pray.
 
What a shame that certain leaders
Remain antagonistic to facts.
How people fall for such careless denial...
What a heavy toll this exacts!
 
We’re lucky to have this beautiful world;
We’re lucky to share it with others and enjoy it.
But we will have to pay the piper
If we continue to abuse and destroy it.

- by Bob B

It's very disturbing to hear people say
That they wholeheartedly object
To being forced to weigh their words
And having to be politically correct.

Forgetting the crassness of earlier times,
They want to return to the careless days
When Jews were called horrible things;
When blacks weren't "blacks" and gays weren't "gays";

When Native Americans were called "redskins";
When despicable names were given to our foes,
And children were taught horribly racist
"Eeny, meeny, miny, moes."

People didn't "cheat" you, they "gyped" you;
The Irish and Italians were both called names;
"Eskimo" was a generalized term;
Men referred to women as "dames."

Mute people were "dumb" back then;
Latinos and Asians were called names, too.
It seems that derogatory words
Were seldom if ever considered taboo.

Will decency and respect both
Be tossed out the window? Please say no.
We can't return to the ignorant days
Of racist jokes and slurs and Jim Crow.

Being a considerate human means
Sometimes bearing a heavy load.
Our lack of sensitivity
Can lead us down a dangerous road.

- by Bob B

For "peace-keeping reasons," says Putin,
Russian forces surround Ukraine.
To people who are able to see
Through Putin's lies the reasons are plain.

Attacking Ukraine's territorial
Integrity is what he's doing.
And once again the autocrat
Has freedom-loving Ukrainians stewing.

Russian tactics echo what
Happened back in 2014
When Vladimir Putin annexed Crimea,
Creating another ugly scene.

On Fox News, Putin's spokesperson,
Tucker Carlson, is praising the Russians
As he manipulates the political
Landscape in his TV discussions.

When dictators perform a nasty
Feat, Carlson celebrates it.
Critics say he doesn't merely
Report the news, he CREATES it.

It's sad to see Republicans
Praising autocratic regimes.
What a way to undermine
Democracy, or so it seems!

-by Bob B (2-22-22)

Careless protesters gather together
In cities across the United States,
Criticizing stay-at-home orders
And thumbing their noses at the Fates.

Unmasked demonstrators stand
Only two or three feet apart,
Indicating a lack of caution
And showing us they are NOT being smart.

It doesn't help when the president
Encourages foolish behavior. What's more,
Far-right militia thugs show up
And look as though they're waging war.

Nobody cherishes not being able
To socialize with family and friends.
All of us look forward to
The day that social distancing ends.

Everybody wants to get
Back to normal as soon as we can.
But to do it we need to have
A thoughtful, safe, reliable plan--

A plan assembled by experts for whom
Saving lives is the main goal
In order to help us back on our feet
While getting the virus under control.

Ignorance is a poor companion.
When life throws us a wild curve ball,
Remember: people's stupid behavior
Endangers not only them but us all.

-by Bob B (5-3-20)

Rick Perry° has joined the cult
That calls Trump the Chosen One.
Sorry, but that's a game that should be
One with no trumps. Pardon the pun.

To give Trump such an undeserved
Title can only underscore
How much a person has to question
Perry's sanity all the more.

I can think of better titles:
Wannabe Strongman, Liar in Chief,
Security Threat, Hypocrite,
King of Corruption, or Causer of Grief.

But Chosen One? Let's be serious.
Could God really be so daft
To let the Chosen One be Trump?
If so, we've been given the shaft.

-by Bob B (11-25-19)

°Secretary of Energy for Donald Trump

Perverting the presidential power
Of pardon isn't hard to do
When you're Trump and the FBI
Happens to be your bugaboo.

Corner a rat, and it will attack.
Corner Trump, and he'll lash out.
Take your pick of how many
Institutions he will flout.

It's easy to see that when you have
So many crooks and thugs in your nook,
Observers will start to conclude that you--
Surprise!--also look like a crook.

Trump: the great manipulator.
Watch how he begs, steals, and barters.
Watch how proud he is at how
He can create victims and martyrs.

Arpaio, Libby, D'Souza and others--
Some convicted of the same
Crimes that people surrounding Trump
Might be charged with. What's his aim?

If Trump's people maintain their silence
And keep investigators guessing,
After they've served their master well,
The dangling pardon will be their blessing.

Another attack on our judicial
System is Trump's current M.O.
A pardon a day keeps trouble away
In Trump's daily reality show.

-by Bob B (6-1-18)

Are you looking for a solution
To whatever aches and pains might ail you?
During a night of TV viewing
You'll find something that should not fail you.
 
Linzess might stop your belly pain
Or discomfort from your constipation.
(Just be sure to open a window
To provide some needed ventilation.)
 
Feeling nerve pain? Then try Lyrica--
Unless you suffer from arthritis.
If that's the case you need Humira.
But that won't help your laryngitis.
 
Some ads say Abilify
Will help you if you have depression.
But watch out if you start displaying
Bizarre, unexplained aggression.
 
If atrial fibrillation has you
Feeling somewhat out of sorts,
Maybe Eliquis will help you.
Be careful, though, when playing sports.
 
Feeling dry eye? There's Restasis.
Muscle ache? Then try Aleve.
But they won't help with COPD;
To think so would be so naïve.
 
For that you'll need some Symbicort.
But what if you have (gulp!) E-D?
Or B-P-H? Then there's Cialis;
But don't expect a guarantee.
 
For type 2 diabetes there is
Farxiga--just one a day.
But that does NOT mean you can hit
The pastry shop and eat away.
 
For if you do you'll need some Nexium--
Yes, that little purple pill--
For acid reflex isn't fun,
And Zantac might not fit the bill.
 
If menopausal hot flashes
Are totally driving you insane,
Brisdelle should give you relief,
But do not take it with champagne.
 
With all these drugs we can't go wrong.
For everything there is a cure
Or relief from pesky, nagging symptoms;
But read the label to be sure.
 
Because of the possible side effects
Of all the drugs that you might be taking,
Be sure that you have considered the risks
And done some careful decision-making.
 
Watch for rashes, swelling, blood clots,
Gas, nausea, lung infections,
Diarrhea, stomach pains,
Four-hour plus erections,
 
Heart failure, thoughts of suicide,
Impaired judgment, shortness of breath,
Change in moods, drop in blood pressure,
Loss of consciousness, coma, or death.

- by Bob B

Phone calls and cover-ups…
Word to the wise:
Be on the look-out
For secrets and lies.

Betrayal of values…
Truths bite the dust
When a leader
Is one you can't trust.

Mob boss presidents
Running the show…
O how they love
To use quid pro quo!

Oath of office…
A meaningless pledge
For someone who's gone
Over the edge.

Empty promises,
Blame and threats…
What a monster
Corruption begets!

Snake oil for sale…
Ready to try some?
The president
Wants you to buy some.

A false leader,
Stirring up haters,
Says whistleblowers
Are nothing but traitors.

Democracy,
When under attack,
Suffers unless
The people push back.

Phone calls and cover-ups…
Word to the wise:
Be on the look-out
For secrets and lies.

-by Bob B (9-27-19)

(This poem can be sung to the tune of "Little Brown Jug.")

"Me and Kim Jong Un are friends;
Me and him, we made amends.
He rules with an iron fist--
Something that I can't resist.

(Chorus)
"Ha, ha, ha! Can’t you see?
We are making history.
Ha, ha, ha! Look at me!
I just crossed the DMZ!

"North Koreans live in fear.
Many often disappear.
Kim knows how to make 'em cower.
That is how he keeps his power.

(Chorus)

"Let's watch him as he revamps
His political prison camps.
Torture's carried out inside;
He says torture's justified.

(Chorus)

"Ultimate power goes to Kim.
He decides your fate at whim.
Sure, a few unlucky ones
Were killed by anti-aircraft guns.

(Chorus)

"When discussions reconvene,
Watch his propaganda machine.
Speaking up is not worthwhile.
Good chance you won't get a trial.

(Chorus)

"People here are thin, which means
They must eat a lot of greens.
Kim Jong Un is--I must state--
The only one who's overweight.

(Chorus)

"So he might have used starvation
To teach a lesson to his nation.
As long as they all give him praise,
They will live to see more days.

(Chorus)

"This is what he's demonstrated:
Human rights are overrated.
Still, I love to fantasize
That I'll get the Nobel Prize.

"Ha, ha, ha! Can’t you see?
We are making history.
Ha, ha, ha! Look at me!
I just crossed the DMZ!"

-by Bob B (7-1-19)

There's a guy who always was
The paragon of health.
His fitness was a thing he treasured
Even more than wealth.
He said that exercise and eating
Well will keep you strong.
If he got a cold it never
Lasted very long.
He took daily vitamins
And supplements galore.
His favorite place to shop in seemed
To be the health food store.
He said that he'd take drugs but only
As a last resort.
Well, now he's taking pills, but they
Are of a different sort.

He takes a pill for his thyroid and
One to help him sleep.
There's one he takes for arthritis;
That one isn't cheap.
He takes one for anxiety--
To elevate his mood.
Some he takes on an empty stomach,
And some he takes with food.
He takes a pill for cholesterol;
Another one's for his heart.
All the different shapes and colors
Help him tell them apart.
The one he takes for his prostate helps him
When he has to ***.
Now without his stash of pills
He wonders where he'd be.

So, if you're down on drugs, I think
This gentleman will contend
That certain medications help you
Avoid an early end.
The only thing, he says, is meds
Are not a problem as such,
But why the hell do some meds have to
Cost so very much?
On ONE hand we can say that drugs
Might help us to survive.
And yet because of side effects,
We're lucky to be alive.
If you think that you've been lucky,
You might have been. That's true.
But when you reach a certain age,
THIS might happen to you:

You MIGHT need a pill for your thyroid and
One to help you sleep.
You MIGHT need one for arthritis;
Some of them aren't cheap.
You MIGHT need one for anxiety--
To elevate your mood.
Be sure to read the directions because
Some you take with food.
You MIGHT need a pill for cholesterol,
Or maybe one for your heart.
All the different shapes and colors
Help you tell them apart.
Men, your prostate pill will help you
When you have to ***.
Ladies, you'll take something else;
You WON'T get off scot-free.

Yes, without our stash of pills
I wonder where we'd be.

-by Bob B (1-13-20)

Tell it to me plainly, simply,
Without incongruities.
I have NO more patience for
Vagueness and ambiguities.

Whatever you have to say, say it
Clearly, matter-of-factly.
"An unaffected, straightforward style?"
You ask. Yes, exactly.

Of course, flowery language has
A special time and place.
But please leave all pretensions behind
And just cut to the chase.

I want the message in such a way
That makes it easy to grasp.
But convoluted rigmarole
Makes me want to gasp!

If you wear your heart on your sleeve,
That is quite all right.
However, for puzzling plays on words
I have no appetite.

When I was much much younger, I found
A challenge to be amusing.
Nowadays, I have no time
For what’s unclear or confusing.

Complexity might be your thing.
If so, that is fine.
It might be your ultimate goal.
It’s definitely not mine.

Simplicity: that is key.
I don’t mess around
With splashy words or thoughts that make
My writing sound profound.

I want my ride to be comfy and smooth,
Without potholes and dips.
Bombastic words and overblown language
Make for bumpy trips.

Direct, precise, and to the point--
Without a lot of fluff.
That appeals to me right now.
With that, I’ve said enough.

-by Bob B (6-1-21)

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

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

-by Bob B (5-10-20)

I've been playing dodgeball with COVID,
And up to this point, I have succeeded
In dodging the many ***** tossed my way.
I haven't let warnings go unheeded.

True, it's been a wild game,
And all the ***** sing a medley
Of different tunes; some are muted,
Some are stronger, and some are deadly.

As they all go whizzing by,
I twist, I turn, I shelter in place.
Protecting myself as much as I can,
I'm finding it hard to keep up the pace.

It's an equal opportunity
Virus, for COVID doesn't care
Whom it hits. Whoever gets
In the virus's way had better beware.

Extra precautions help us immensely.
Our chances are better that we won't fall
If perchance we're caught off guard
And suddenly get hit by the ball.

Some folks are pelted ever so slightly,
And as each one of them disappears
From the circle of COVID escapees,
Other folks are knocked on their rears.

The ***** keep flying. The game gets even
More befuddling, more demanding.
It makes one wonder if any of us
Can win the round and be left standing.

When this game's over--if ever it is--
Will a new one have its say--
A brand new virus, much more virulent--
A new game we'll be forced to play?

-by Bob B (12-29-22)

Play the tapes, Omarosa!
It's sad to think they're necessary,
But times like these require that we
Think out of the ordinary.

When White House stories change daily,
And the president cannot be trusted
To say the truth, how does one ever
Cope with a leader so maladjusted?

Play the tapes! Let us hear--
From the horse's mouth, so to speak--
How the Trump administration
Reveals the damage that it can wreak.

"Vengeance is mine!" saith Donald Trump.
With his usual *** for tat,
He'll pursue his critics with
The fervor of an autocrat.

Calling her a "lowlife," a "dog,"
He demonstrates his verbal finesse
By finding pejorative words and expressions
That for him are hard to suppress.

Whether Omarosa's words
Have more credibility than his,
Anybody who sees through Trump
Knows who the real lowlife is.

-by Bob B (8-14-18)

Play the tapes, Omarosa!
It's sad to think they're necessary,
But times like these require that we
Think out of the ordinary.

When White House stories change daily,
And the president cannot be trusted
To say the truth, how does one ever
Cope with a leader so maladjusted?

Play the tapes! Let us hear--
From the horse's mouth, so to speak--
How the Trump administration
Reveals the damage that it can wreak.

"Vengeance is mine!" saith Donald Trump.
With his usual *** for tat,
He'll pursue his critics with
The fervor of an autocrat.

Calling you a "lowlife," a "dog,"
He demonstrates his verbal finesse
By finding pejorative words and expressions
That for him are hard to suppress.

Whether YOUR words, Omarosa,
Have more credibility than his,
Anybody who sees through Trump
Knows who the real lowlife is.

-by Bob B (8-14-18)

Trump has accused Hillary Clinton
Of having practiced pay-to-play;
Once again, he's taking advantage
Of his supporters' naïveté.

So far, he has appointed SIX
Campaign donors to top positions--
A telling move that ought to cause
Many people to have suspicions.

He took on Wall Street during his campaign,
Which would be a major feat.
Now he is offering Cabinet
Jobs to the economic elite!

Millions of dollars will go to Carrier
To save jobs. But did you hear?
The company wants to automate,
So many jobs will disappear.

The "blue-collar billionaire"
Role of Trump is a scam.
He says he's fighting for workers, but
He doesn't give a tinker's ****.

- by Bob B (12-10-16)

Please don't be my Valentine
UNLESS your heart's sincere--
Unless you get all tingly
Whenever I come near.
 
You can't be my Valentine
If dreaming's obsolete--
If without me in your life
You wouldn't be complete.
 
How can we be Valentines
If we cannot laugh
At all our idiosyncrasies
That speak on our behalf?
 
There's NO way we'll be Valentines
Unless you find me charming--
Unless you find my silly habits
Pleasantly disarming.
 
We cannot be Valentines
Unless it means forever--
Unless our solid love is one
That even death can't sever.
 
No, we won’t be Valentines
Unless my words ring true,
And feelings that you have for me
Are just like mine for you.
 
But IF we CAN'T be Valentines,
Nothing else then matters--
My WORLD will be an empty shell;
My HEART will be in tatters.
 
- by Bob B

I’ve made it! Where? To poem one thousand--
"Published" for people to read online.
Every time I finish a new one,
I get a feeling that's hard to define--

Not because it's a tour de force,
A magnum opus, or masterpiece;
It's just the idea of letting thoughts flow
And then feeling a sense of release.

Call it a marriage of thoughts and expression:
That's what writing is tantamount to.
I sometimes wonder: do you find
A poem, or does a poem find you?

I still enjoy the challenge of rhyme.
Up to now that's been my choice.
After hundreds of poems, rhythm
And rhyme have helped me to find my voice.

I like to merge poems and songs,
So, often I write with a tune in my head.
Some of my critics ask me, "Aren't
Some things better left unsaid?"

Oh, no, no! I have to reply.
When life gives you a little nudge,
You let thoughts out, come what may.
But true, the reader will be the judge.

Since there's such a wealth of topics,
And time's no issue since I'm retired,
So long as my Muse inspires me,
I'll write until I am labeled "Expired."

-by Bob B (5-1-20)

This poem's the twelve hundredth poem
That I have "published" on my blog.
For me, my poetry collection
Is almost like a travelogue--

A mental travelogue depicting
My thoughts traveling to and fro.
I'm never certain where they'll take me
Next. I just go with the flow.

Today might be a little visit
To a place called "Hypocrisy-land."
There you'll find politicians
Who have gotten out of hand.

Tomorrow might take me to a place
Where I spend a lot of time--
A place where animals can talk
And anecdotes are put to rhyme.

To outer space my mind might travel;
Or out to explore nature's wonders.
Perhaps I'll take a nostalgic trip
Or write about people's triumphs or blunders.

Places, events, and history,
Unknown figures, people of fame,
Likable folks, and miscreants, too:
Any topic becomes fair game.

Eschewing ambiguity
Or language rich in metaphor,
I find that a simple, conversational,
Straightforward style suits me more.

To many poets, poems that rhyme
Are--according to them--passé.
Although it has its limitations,
Rhyming for me is here to stay.

I know that poetry is not
Everybody's cup of tea,
But somehow I can hear it speak
In everything I do or see.

-by Bob B (12-17-21)

This is my fourteen-hundredth poem
Published on my blog so far.
My inspirations are almost endless--
Sort of like an open bar.

I'm going to quote myself this time
By using almost to the letter
Lines that come from my twelve-hundredth poem.
It's hard to say it any better:

I've "published" my poems on various sites,
Which, as I said, include my blog.
"For me, my poetry collection
Is almost like a travelogue--

"A mental travelogue depicting
My thoughts traveling to and fro."
I'm never certain where my thoughts
Will take me. "I just go with the flow.

"Today might be a little visit
To a place called 'Hypocrisy-land.'
There you'll find politicians
Who have gotten out of hand.

"Tomorrow might take me to a place
Where I spend a lot of time--
A place where animals can talk
And anecdotes are put to rhyme.

"To outer space my mind might travel;
Or out to explore nature's wonders.
Perhaps I'll take a nostalgic trip
Or write about people's triumphs or blunders."

Climate change, current events,
"Unknown figures, people of fame,
Likable folks, and miscreants, too,"--
All these topics become fair game.

Religion is not off-limits, for I
Detest religious hypocrisy,
The ways religion is misused,
And the dangers of a theocracy.

Sometimes I'll write a poem that could
Be sung to a melody of my own;
Or maybe I'll write a poem that could
Be sung to a song that is well known.

"Eschewing ambiguity
Or language rich in metaphor,
I find that a simple, conversational,
Straightforward style suits me more.

"To many poets, poems that rhyme
Are--according to them--passé.
Although it has its limitations,
Rhyming for me is here to stay."

The quoted lines are what I wrote
In December 2021.
Writing continues to be a challenge
That's stimulating, exciting, and fun.

So when it comes to poetry,
I don't want to be myopic.
I maintain that anything
Imaginable can be a topic.

-by Bob B (6-5-24)

This is poem 1500
Of all the poems I catalogue
By date--including year--when I
Add them to my poetry blog.

After adding 1500
Poems to my résumé,
I am sure that readers wonder
If I have anything left to say.

There's ALWAYS something to write about.
Although as crazy as it may seem,
Many of my poems, I'd say,
Are variations on a theme.

Very straightforward is how I like them--
Not ambiguous, highbrow, or deep.
At times mine cause a controversy
When I choose to take a leap.

Different things will stimulate us.
For some of us it's reading and writing.
When we look at the universe
With wonder, every day's exciting.

As long as there are hypocrites,
Religious fanatics, thoughts to explore,
Natural wonders, current events,
And tyrants, I’ll have topics galore.

And so I'll keep on plugging along
Until my mind and body give out,
At which point I'll “lay down my pen,”
Without a whimper, without a shout.

-by Bob B (3-18-25)

This poem is number 600
Of poems I have "published" on the Web.
My steady enthusiasm for writing
Poetry hasn't started to ebb.

That's six hundred since the spring
Of the year twenty fourteen. Okay,
I know I sound like a chatterbox,
But I thought I had a lot to say.

The process is electrifying:
It happens after I immerse
Myself in an ocean of thoughts and feelings
And out pop my comments in verse.

There's always something to write about--
Something to question, discuss or explore.
Some might say, "Enough! Enough!"
While others say, "Give me more!"

I've always admired a great poet
With a facile tongue and a flowing pen.
I'll never be a Shakespeare or Milton,
A Wordsworth, Keats, or Shelley, but then

That's not important. I'll still write poems.
If one of them strikes a chord that will be
Nice; but if a poem falls flat,
All I can say is, "C'est la vie!"

If there is a lull in my writing,
Do not fret, for goodness' sake.
I probably haven't kicked the bucket;
I'm probably just taking a break.

-by Bob B (9-5-17)

THIS poem is number 800
Of poems I've "published" on various sites.
You might golf, play tennis or paint;
Of me they merely say, "He writes."

Eight hundred poems are a lot
Of poems if you are keeping score.
But bear in mind that poets out there
Have written hundreds or thousands more.

Writing can become a passion--
Something that grasps your innermost being,
That vibrantly exposes your heart
When you try to express what you're seeing.

My approach is sometimes light-hearted
And playful if I am in the mood;
And yet I can be quite serious
And muse on something or ponder or brood.

I often write poems that tell a story.
Call them unsophisticated
If you wish, but frankly I say
Sophistication is overrated.

After observing the world around me,
I sit down and roll up my sleeves
To write, often focusing on
Some of my most annoying pet peeves,

Hypocrisy being ONE of them.
Oh, the slimy hypocrites ooze
Flagrant chicanery, fraud, and pretense,
And every day they're in the news.

Some say, "Leave no turn unstoned."
No, wait: I mean "stone unturned."
And no, you can't please everybody;
That's an important lesson I've learned.

If you've read all 800 poems,
I've taken up a lot of your time.
I hope you've found the journey worthwhile--
This journey through my verses in rhyme.

But if poetry's NOT your thing,
Do not worry; I understand.
You'll receive no criticism,
No reproof, no reprimand.

Therefore, if you've read this far,
Celebrate along with me
This little challenge. Raise your glass
And drink a toast to poetry!

-by Bob B (12-27-18)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (1-19-22)

Please don't ask me to pray for victims
Of shootings. IF you do I'll refuse.
You THINK you mean well, but praying is merely
A politician's sham, a ruse,

A strategy or way to skirt
The issue that's sadly become a disgrace:
The problem of gun violence here--
Something that’s staring us in the face.

Don't ignore the matter and then
When there's a shooting ask me to pray,
While you accept money from gun
Lobbyists and the NRA.

Do not mouth obsequious chants,
Pretending your interest is on the level,
And then act shocked and horrified
After you've made your pact with the devil.

Do not quote the Constitution,
Insisting you know the writers' intentions,
When it's clear that our failed system
Is badly in need of interventions.

Don't make it easy for people to get
Assault-style weapons and bump stock devices,
Supporting the gun industry at
The cost of human sacrifices.

Action--not prayers--is what we need.
Commonsense solutions. Again:
Action. But if praying's your thing,
Ask to become AWARE. Amen!

-by Bob B (2-18-18)

Politics! What a crazy beast--
One that fiercely polarizes
Couples, friends, relatives, and nations
And often denigrates compromises.

You might interpret a situation
From a completely opposite perspective
From how I understand it, for our
Listening skills are oddly selective.

To me a right that goes without saying,
Might be a dangerous threat to you.
Likewise, a cause that's close to your heart
Is one I might not take kindly to.

Politics shouldn't be so divisive.
After all, it's plain to see
That everyone would get along
If everybody thought like me.

-by Bob B (6-20-17)

Politics, O politics!
In life there is no simple fix.
In everything we do or say
Politics has a role to play.
 
When early man hung out in caves
And used crude tools and dug crude graves,
Someone had to take command
And maintain the upper hand.
Even the Neanderthals
Had cool paintings on their walls.
Who appointed the artiste?
Someone with some clout, at least.
Early humans had to spin
Their politics to get buy-in.
Organization was a necessity
When wild boar was their recipe.
Imagine cave meetings, if you can—
How they communicated man to man.
They’d just grunt and **** and such;
I guess men haven’t changed that much.
 
Under kings’ and emperors’ rule
You had to play politics, or you were a fool.
If you weren’t careful to watch what you said,
You could easily lose your head.
Men making rules had little regard
For the status of women, so it’s been hard
For women to earn their equal rights,
Which means lots of political fights.
That's politics at work; we know it!
If we're not vigilant, we can blow it.
In sports there’s a definite political tune,
And the church—especially—is not immune.
In every relationship, in each interaction,
In every connection, in each attraction,
Like it or not, politics will emerge;
If ideas don’t CON-, then they DIVERGE.
  
Frankly, it doesn’t matter whether
TWO or a MILLION people are together;
There’s no avoiding a political scene.
Human nature has a political mien.
We can talk local, county, state,
National or global politics. But wait!
What about the nature of politics in space?
It’s something to consider, just in case.
Some people have to play second fiddle.
If they're NOT at the top, they're bottom or middle.
Whether in the center, to the right, or to the left,
Hopefully, you don’t feel bereft.
If one side's right and the other side's wrong,
That’s okay; we can still get along.
As long as there are people, politics will never
Disappear; it will last forever.
 
Politics, O politics!
Always expect a bag of tricks.
Try, if you want, to wish it away;
Politics is here to stay.

- by Bob B

For nearly twenty years we've fought
A war against the Taliban,
As U.S. and allied forces have
Chased a mirage in Afghanistan.

A war that spanned four presidents
And bad policy decisions
Will soon be coming to a close,
Despite the Afghans' ongoing divisions.

To many Afghan girls and women,
Our presence there has been a relief.
Having endured years of oppression,
They had had their share of grief.

Once we leave, Taliban forces
Most likely will achieve their goal
As city after city falls
And they are able to regain control.

If only we could have said to the people,
"If you want to get out, leave now.
We will find a safe place for you
Elsewhere in the world somehow."

But, alas, that didn't happen.
The idea didn't resonate
With other countries in the world.
And so the Afghans are left to their fate.

I'm afraid to imagine what
Will happen to the women then,
As the extremist leaders cut off
Their path to education again.

And woe to all the translators
Who helped the Western forces there.
If we can't help them flee the country,
Their safety will be up in the air.

Western leaders who tried to contain
The region's volatility,
Have--with our four presidents--
A shared responsibility.

I pity the poor people who must
Be ruled by the Taliban,
But we cannot continue to fight
An endless war in Afghanistan.

-by Bob B (8-6-21)

Poor Donald. What took place?
You received the ruling of another case.
Consequences sometimes can be hard to face.
Poor Donald.

Poor Donald. What'll you do
Now that all your lies are catching up with you?
Accountability can be a dream come true.
But poor Donald.

Poor Donald. Don't say, "Pshaw!"
Conspiracy and fraud are both against the law.
The judge got fed up hearing all your blah, blah, blah.
So, poor Donald.

Poor Donald. Though you fight,
I guess that facts and truth can be your kryptonite.
The judge was baffled that you weren't at all contrite.
Yes, poor Donald.

Poor Donald. Do not pout.
Based on past experience there is no doubt
That donors and the RNC will bail you out.
Still, poor Donald.

Poor Donald. Hey, what now?
You'll be back in court, but it's amazing how
Folks can still consider you their sacred cow.
Yet, poor Donald.

-by Bob B (2-17-24)

(The format of this poem was inspired by a verse in Stephen Sondheim's song "Poor Baby.")

If Henry Higgins were actually living,
Certainly, he would be unforgiving
When hearing how English is spoken today.
I can imagine what Henry might say:

"English speakers who massacre grammar
Ought to be thrown into the slammer,
And there in the slammer they should remain
Until they treat English with much less disdain.

"Their usage of pronouns is simply atrocious.
One thing that makes me feel ferocious
Is when they use 'him' when they ought to use 'he,'
Or when they misuse both 'I' and 'me.'

"The past tense of verbs is not hard to learn,
And yet it's a practice that some people spurn.
The past tense of 'string'--the verb--is 'strung.'
The past tense of 'sing' is 'sang,' not 'sung.'

"And then there's the overuse of 'like.'
Has formal English gone on strike?
'I was like…,' 'He was like…,' 'She was like..' ****!
That's even hard to diagram!

"And what about the subjunctive mood?
When speakers misuse it, I come unglued.
'If I was you…' grates on my ears.
'If I would have known…' brings me to tears.

"Some people call it language abuse
And throw up their arms and say, 'What's the use?'
Social media makes it worse.
To some it's a blessing; to me it's a curse.

"Unfortunately, rules are broken
Wherever the English language is spoken.
A language will change. Yes, that I know.
Oh, but it's painful to see it change so!"

-by Bob B (3-27-22)

Trump's cases are piling up.
In Florida, it's classified docs.
Jumping from ONE excuse to another,
He acts as though he's Goldilocks!

Falsifying business records:
Another accusation he faces.
But no matter what he does,
He always stays in supporters' good graces.

There's also the case in Georgia, where
It's interference in an election.
Then there's a possible D.C. case:
Involvement in an insurrection.

(Chorus)
Poor Trumpy!
Hear him moan.
All he has to count on is his telephone.
Always in a pickle but the fault's his own.
Poor Trumpy!

A case of ****** abuse
Is one that he has already lost.
It's incredible when you consider
All the lines that man has crossed.

Trump denies all charges, of course,
And yells, "Witch hunt!" and "Weaponization!"
But making him accountable,
Though bad for him, is good for the nation.

(Chorus)
Poor Trumpy!
Hear him moan.
All he has to count on is his telephone.
Always in a pickle but the fault's his own.
Poor Trumpy!

-by Bob B (7-19-23)

Whom was sitting all alone,
Feeling sad and dejected.
For quite a while, the pronoun has
Been a bit neglected.

"I just don't understand," he cried,
"Why I am not used.
And when I am, I'm very often
Terribly abused."

Who walked over and sat with him.
Sad that he was blue,
She said, "It's just that speakers prefer
Me instead of you.

"I am easy to find and use,
Whether by voice or ink.
However, you make speakers of English
Have to stop and think--

"Unless they know you very well,
And many of them don't.
Folks have the chance to make your acquaintance,
But, sadly, many won't.

"You are not the only one
To be in such a funk.
Look what's happening to our friends
Eaten, Gone, and Drunk!"

(By the way, Who was sincere;
She WASN'T a mere pretender.
And don't forget that Whom and Who
Both can change their gender.)

"At least," said Whom, "I'm in the books--
The great works from the past.
As long as folks will read them, I know
My legacy will last."

Who left feeling depressed about
Whom's impending doom.
How horrible to witness the sad
Demise of brother Whom!

-by Bob B (9-5-25)

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

-by Bob B (10-16-20)

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

Praise to essential service providers
Who daily put their lives on the line.
Such a giant debt we owe them!
May their hearts forever shine!

A special shout-out to doctors and nurses
And other health care workers who strive--
With limited equipment--to keep
Patients with COVID-19 alive.

Praise to epidemiologists
Who give us guidance and rules to follow
When the advice given by some
Of our topmost leaders is hard to swallow.

Praise to all who do their part
To keep a deadly virus from spreading,
Despite scary uncertainties
That make it hard to know where we're heading.

Praise to all who listen to
The voices of reason and do not let
The voices of ignorance cause them to
Behave in ways they'll one day regret.

And while we're praising all these people,
Remember the victims who had to die.
When a government's responses
Are muddled, the cost in lives can be high.

-by Bob B (5-22-20)

Praise to the leakers who take a risk
To rout out corruption, wrongdoings, and lies.
We have the right to know the truth.
A thousand thanks for opening our eyes.

Praise to the investigative press--
Brave, ubiquitous, and alert.
Exposing deceit and hypocrisy means
Sometimes having to dig up dirt.

Praise to the heroes who fight for our rights,
Exposing themselves to insults and scorn.
We take for granted most of our freedoms,
The loss of which one day we could mourn.

Praise to all the defenders of truth.
Don’t be bullied into submission.
Your vigilance will guide us when
Integrity suffers from malnutrition.

-by Bob B (8-9-17)

Praise to the sagacious masters
Who tapped into the light
Of ineffable, infinite wisdom
That penetrates the night.
 
Praise to wondrous ones
Who sought neither glory nor fame--
Who opened their hearts to humanity
And remained unfazed by acclaim.
 
Those whose approach to life
Was guided by truth--we applaud them.
May our gratitude deepen
As we gratefully laud them.
 
Surely their noble dreams
Have relevance for today.
Their incomparable wisdom
Casts its light on the Way.
 
If we come to realize
The limitations of the ages
In which the wise ones lived--
As reflected on history's pages--
 
Then the truths of their words
That connect the present to the past
Will not get lost in the details
And fail to endure--to last.
 
With hearts of understanding--
In a manner of speaking--
Let's follow the great wise masters
In a spirit of constant seeking.

- by Bob B

You can tell a lot about
A person by the ones he admires.
Another telling factor is
The people whom he inspires.

Donald Trump, for example,
Praises Putin, a leader who
Has jailed dissenters, squashed human rights,
And done away with opponents, too.

After a questionable referendum,
Which restricts in many ways
Civil rights, the leader of Turkey,
Erdoğan, received Trump's praise.

Duterte of the Philippines--
Authoritarian and leading official--
Has had thousands of people killed
In a manner blatantly extrajudicial.

So that's his way of solving the problem
Of drugs in the Philippines is it?
And guess who wants the blood-thirsty,
Despotic leader to come for a visit?

And then there's the leader of North Korea,
Kim Jong Un. Only a rookie
Would say that the mad, unhinged and murderous
Leader was a "pretty smart cookie."

Trump's had business ties with three
Of the above countries. There's no mistaking.
But does this mean that a Trump Tower
In Pyongyang is in the making?

-by Bob B (5-3-17)

From recent floods in the state of Texas,
More than 100 lives have been lost.
Natural disasters can mean
That there's a tremendous human cost.

The horror and the tragedy
Cannot be overemphasized;
Nor can the magnitude of all
The suffering be verbalized.

We should lament the loss of lives
But NOT let ourselves get carried away
By false interpretations, which
Make no sense in the world today.

Governor Abbott of Texas has said
That prayers "could have been the reason
Why water stopped rising" where the storm
Took place this deadly monsoon season.

He thanked "God almighty" for having
Blessed his state. What a shame!
God always gets the credit
But never seems to get the blame.

If God was so concerned, then why
Did he even allow the slaughter
Of innocent people who were trapped
By rising, rushing river water?

What Abbott should be focusing on
Is public safety and being prepared
For such disasters, so in the future
Many more human lives can be spared.

Without research, adequate staffing,
Climate-change mitigation,
And smart, effective alert systems,
We will see more devastation.

Making a private matter a public
Announcement is what’s at issue here.
Abbott can pray as much as he wants
If that is something that he holds dear.

He makes God sound just like Trump:
Someone who without a doubt
Loves to start a fire and then
Receive great praise for putting it out.

-by Bob B (7-9-25)

(A song-monologue on the first
anniversary of an election)

"Pretend that you care
Even if you don't.
Say you'll come through,
Even if you won't.
Surround yourself
With lackeys who will kiss
Your billionaire ***
Or else they'd be remiss.

"Pretend that you
Are richer than you are.
Keep on doing
What's gotten you this far.
Seek out help
From those who can provide
Ways to gather
Assets you can hide.

"Pretend religion
Means a lot to you.
Keep admirers
In your field of view.
They'll forgive you,
Even when you're rude.
They won't see
That they are being *******.

"Pretend your knowledge
Of history is vast.
Tell people your
Skills are unsurpassed.
If you remain
Stubborn and opaque,
Your fans will not
See that you're a fake.

"Pretend that your country--
Ever since your youth--
Has meant more than money,
Though that's not the truth.
Divisiveness
Works like a charm.
Lying won't
Do any harm.

"Pretend you're loyal.
Loyalty is grand--
At least until
Inquiries expand.
If your cronies
Ever cause a fuss,
You can throw them
Under the bus.

"Pretend that you
Are stronger than you feel.
Just keep on
Polishing your spiel.
Continue to threaten
To silence the news.
You as the leader
Can do as you choose.

"Pretend…
Just pretend…
Just pretend."

-by Bob B (11-8-17)