I enjoy a good band with its
Drums and fine guitars,
A keyboard and a couple of singers
At concerts, clubs, and bars.
A mellow band with harmonizing
Voices is a treat—
Not a loud rambunctious one
That blasts me out of my seat.
An exciting band can really send me—
That I will concede.
But an acoustic guitar, a pleasant voice,
And a song are all I need.
 
Take me to a symphony;
That can be exciting.
Beethoven, Brahms, and Mozart
All can be inviting.
Chamber music with a string quartet
Can often do the trick;
A grand concerto that gives me goose bumps
Has a definite kick.
Big band, pop, or classical
Music are fine indeed;
But an acoustic guitar, a pleasant voice,
And a song are all I need.
 
Opera can be scintillating
If you like the score.
A giant chorus or a plaintive aria
Makes your spirits soar.
Mozart, Wagner, Puccini, Verdi
Massenet and the rest
Make me realize that I am
Listening to the best.
But as much as I like opera
When it's up to speed,
An acoustic guitar, a pleasant voice,
And a song are all I need.
 
I like music from all around
The world as a rule.
Both modern and traditional
Sounds to me are cool.
German, Japanese, Norwegian,
Mexican, and Chinese
Music makes me feel good;
It puts my mind at ease.
But as much as I like all music,
One thing's guaranteed:
An acoustic guitar, a pleasant voice,
And a song are all I need.
 
- by Bob B

The clues have been…let's say,
Preponderant. We've seen
That Trump's reputation
Is far from squeaky clean.

Now he sounds indignant:
"How dare they imply
That I worked with Russia!
Do THEY think I'm a spy?"

Is there evidence
That Trump and certain staff,
Knowingly or not,
Worked on Russia's behalf?

Knowing or not knowing…
Yes, even the latter
Definitely is
A counterintelligence matter.

The FBI will discover
Whether suspicions are true
While Trump sends out a tweetstorm.
Of course, what else is new?

Is he an asset to Russia
At our country's expense?
The accusation really
Makes a lot of sense.

His words and actions are
Often injudicious,
Which makes him sound so utterly
And blatantly suspicious.

Mueller certainly knows
A lot more than we think.
He will put together
The pieces, link by link.

Team Trump will spread
Deep state myths to steer
Us off the path to truth.
They smear whom they can smear.

They will try to hide
The truth without a doubt.
Cooperation with Russia
Is what it’s all about.

Misstating the law,
Giuliani tries
To give Trump his support
By backing the president’s lies.

Trump’s words leave us
With so much to bemoan.
Who knows WHAT goes on
When Putin and he are alone?

He's been parroting Putin's
Talking points. How's that?
Is he a spokesman for
The Russian autocrat?

Undeniably, Trump
Finds himself in a spot,
Which amounts to a case
Of possible kompromat.

Never have we had
A situation so…hairy.
Never have we had
A president so scary.

-by Bob B (1-13-19)

Tim Murphy° of Pennsylvania--
Proud of his anti-abortion stance
And long-time anti-abortion record--
Was caught doing a different dance:

Murphy's former mistress wonders
How the man has reconciled
His pro-life pretensions while also wanting
Her to abort their unborn child.

Tsk, tsk, tsk, Mr. Murphy.
But maybe the cloud has a silver lining
When you step down from your position,
For word is out that you're resigning.

Oh, you hypocrites! You love to decide
What's good for other people. How true!
But you do what you **** well choose,
For rules do NOT apply to you!

-by Bob B (10-6-17)

°Congressman from Pennsylvania's 18th District

(The poem can be sung to the tune of the hymn "He Walks with Me," as sung by Merle Haggard.)

We hear when Trump speaks on the news;
We're amazed at what he is saying.
But no fans believe how he can deceive
Those on whom he is preying.

And he lies to us and he cries to us,
"I am the greatest on earth!"
He is such a disgrace! How can his base
Ignore his full lack of worth?

He talks about helping us all.
That's not true; he's only pretending.
He would rather prop up those at the top.
His tales are never-ending.

And he lies to us and he cries to us,
"I am the greatest on earth!"
He is such a disgrace! How can his base
Ignore his full lack of worth?

Feel sorry for people who don't
See beyond the man's shifty notions.
Wait until they've learned how they have been burned.
He just goes through the motions.

And he lies to us and he cries to us,
"I am the greatest on earth!"
He is such a disgrace! How can his base
Ignore his full lack of worth?

-by Bob B (5-8-19)

An Arkansas pastor claims
That half of his church is willing to lick
The floor to prove that COVID-19
Is merely a hoax--a liberal trick.

In Florida, a megachurch
Pastor brazenly defies
An order restricting gatherings
Of more than ten people. NOT very wise.

The Bible study teacher for
Trump's Cabinet displays
His ignorance in blaming the spread
Of the virus COVID-19 on gays.

But no, not only on gays, but on
Environmentalists to boot.
How dangerous when an adviser at
The White House is a spiritual brute!

As if he knows the mind of God,
He says that God is angry; hence,
God is punishing humankind.
Where are reason and common sense?

It's hard to believe that in this year--
2020--one could swallow
Such poppycock, such balderdash,
Such vacuous words, cold and hollow.

-by Bob B (3-31-20)

During the final days of his term,
Trump did his best
To overturn election results
Like a man possessed.

Like a man possessed he tried
Everything he could
To point out massive voter fraud--
That folks were up to no good.

Folks were up to no good in choosing
Someone else over him,
He thought, for in his mind he'd figured
That Biden's chances were slim.

That Biden's chances were slim: the thought
Propelled him along,
So if Biden won the election,
Something had to be wrong.

Since SOMETHING had to be wrong, he called
The then acting AG,
And told him to say there'd been corruption,
"And leave the rest to me."

"And leave the rest to me." Uh huh.
Of course, we see a connection:
Ten days later we all witnessed
The Capitol insurrection.

-by Bob B (7-31-21)

A guy said, "Wow! My stress level
Has really dropped. I am elated!
I owe it to my meditation."
"Yes, and maybe endorphins," I stated.

"What?" he asked. "What do you mean?
What do orphans have to do with it?
I'm TRYING to share what happened to
My mind, and here you go and ***** with it."

"No," I chuckled. "You don't understand.
You see, 'and orphans' is not what I said.
It has nothing to do with orphans.
I was saying 'endorphins' instead."

"There you go again," he continued,
"Saying it over and over again:
'And orphans, and orphans.' You sound like
A nitwit with a capital 'N'!"

"I, a nitwit?" I said, astonished.
"You are the one who keeps repeating
'And orphans.' Now I see that trying
To reason with you is self-defeating."

"Self-defeating? B...b…but," he stammered,
"I was merely attempting to share
The benefits of my meditation.
Orphans are neither here nor there."

"Listen: I WASN'T saying 'ORPHANS'!"
I yelled. "And frankly, I have to confess
Meditation in your case is
Of questionable effectiveness."

"Although your criticism," he said,
"Should bother me, I will not let it."
He walked away, and as he did,
He mumbled, "And orphans? I STILL don't get it."

-by Bob B (7-27-21)

It's hard to watch as Republicans
In Congress parrot Putin's words.
In spouting Putin's talking points,
What they're doing is polishing turds.
°И это делает Путина очень счастливым.

Brandishing conspiracy theories
And fantasies that have been debunked,
They are showing the world how their
Integrity is now defunct.
И это делает Путина очень счастливым.

Bending the truth with the Putin/Russian
Intelligence narrative flies in the face
Of all that we have done for years
To keep democracy in place.
И это делает Путина очень счастливым.

Putin loves to see Americans
Attack one another by going for the throat.
After stirring up discord here,
He can then sit back and gloat.
И это делает Путина очень счастливым.

Putin's friends in the White House, too,
Bolster the leader's insidious plot
And say that Putin is innocent
While the country Ukraine is not.
И это делает Путина очень счастливым.

What has happened to America--
The land of the free, the home of the brave?
George Washington must be
Turning over in his grave.
И это делает Путина очень счастливым.

-by Bob B (11-22-19)

°I eto delajet putina otchen shastliwim.

The crowd saw him, the president,
With his sycophants clapping their hands;
Their images filled the stadium screen
High above the spectator stands.

Suddenly, one could hear,
Amidst the cheers and jeers of the crowd,
Familiar words: "Lock him up!"
One would think that Trump would be proud.

How he loves to hear those words
At his political rallies! Plus,
When he wants to encourage his fans
To blast his opponents, they do it thus.

Wait! Ah, but now it's different.
Someone who always behaves by whim
Can now experience how it feels
To have the words directed at HIM.

Considering all the damage he's caused,
Let's give credit where credit is due:
Whether it's right, the man deserves
Every heckle, every boo.

Impeachment looms, but his removal
From office is not so likely, they say.
Still, Congress has the duty
To go through the process anyway.

In the meantime, while he watches
His reputation go up in flames,
Maybe the man seriously
Ought to avoid attending games.

-by Bob B (10-30-19)

The race continues--a race that's been
On the track for a number of years
To see who can be the most obnoxious
And earn the loudest misapplied cheers.

For the longest time we've seen
Donald Trump taking the lead,
But Ron DeSantis° and George Santos°°
Without a doubt are picking up speed.

Who can tell more lies than the others,
Pour more salt in the nation's sores,
Support the most exclusive laws,
Or perpetrate more culture wars?

Being on the right side
Of history should be a goal.
Each of the three men mentioned above
Sadly, though, has sold his soul.

Other runners aren't far behind.
They are almost as loathsome, as loud.
None of the racers realize
That winning this race should not make them proud.

For the moment, DeSantis and Santos
Are trailing Trump, but by and by,
Will one of the them pull ahead and win,
Or will it be a three-way tie?

-by Bob B (1-20-23)

°Governor of Florida
°°U.S. representative for New York's 3rd congressional district

Wow! Here we go again:
The FBI stopped a crime,
Preventing a screwy miscreant
From mass killings just in time.

A Coast Guard lieutenant he was
Who loves Russia's autocracy
And neo-**** literature,
Which threaten our democracy.

He had the names of Democrats
And media figures on his list,
Along with a stockpiled arsenal--
This crazed domestic terrorist.

Advocating violence,
He’s published words of hate and fear:
He would do his part in order
To make a "white homeland" here.

In our current environment,
Where vitriol is a daily occurrence
In presidential tweets and no
Criticisms provide deterrence,

The president's hateful attacks on reporters
Should truly sound an alarm bell.
He says, "I HATE some of these people.
But I would never **** them…WELL…"

So unfit for office he is,
He doesn't even realize
The impact of his messages--
The lives his words jeopardize.

He can’t seem to help himself
Or see his own contradictions.
The country is filled with crackpots who
Eat up all of his crazy fictions.

It took Trump a week to speak out
Or mention the seriousness of this case.
Why so long? Heaven forbid
He anger extremists among his base!

-by Bob B (2-25-19)

The students examined their holograms
Suspended before them in mid-air.
The colorful images always gave
Their history lessons added flair.

"You can see countries where," said the teacher,
"Democracy at one time flourished--
Before the form of government
Became weak and undernourished.

"Voting was once considered a right--
Not a privilege for only a few.
Multiple demands destroyed
The system once thought tried and true:

"Manipulation by greed and power,
Proliferation of lies and scams,
Thought control and disinformation,
And leaders who were merely shams

"Undermined the people's freedom.
Clueless people were led astray
By cunning voices persuading them
To stupidly vote their rights away.

"Often people's myopia
Can undermine their common sense.
Doesn't it make you wonder how
So many people can be so dense?"

"Maybe I've gone too far," he thought.
"I want them to think, to question." But when
Word reached the authorities' ears,
No one saw that teacher again.

-by Bob B (6-5-18)

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "Auld Lang Syne.")

It's been a year from hell--one that
We might choose to forget.
Our routine and our very lives
Have been under constant threat.

Let’s raise a glass and give a toast,
For we have reached the end
Of 2020. Will good things
Await us 'round the bend?

A deadly virus spread and still
It takes a heavy toll.
Let's hope the vaccines wipe it out;
That will be the New Year's goal.

Let’s raise a glass and give a toast,
For we have reached the end
Of 2020. Will good things
Await us 'round the bend?

The votes were cast; the people spoke.
Now let's shout out three cheers,
For gone will be the one who gave
Us four nightmarish years.

Let’s raise a glass and give a toast,
For we have reached the end
Of 2020. Will good things
Await us 'round the bend?

-by Bob B (12-31-20)

Many people wonder what
Trump can do to cause more woe.
Never ceasing to find a way,
The man has reached an all-time low.

He is still separating
Families that have been here for years--
Deporting parents and leaving their kids
To fend for themselves. Imagine their fears!

Crossing the line again, he's showing
How cruel and hateful his policies are,
For now the man is pushing one
That's more inhumane than others so far:

Non-citizens being treated
For life-threatening illnesses must
Leave the country in thirty-three days.
Trump thinks that's fair and just.

The Trump administration is saying,
"Sorry, but the time is nigh
For you to leave the United States."
In other words, "Go home and die!"

The White House **** Stephen Miller
Has to have his hand in this.
Whatever he can do to hurt
Immigrants gives him infinite bliss.

How sad it is when leaders are
Devoid of human compassion and heart!
Do we stand idly by and watch
The president tear the country apart?

-by Bob B (8-29-19)

I heard that seventy-percent
Of people here in a recent poll
Believe in angels, which I find
Very interesting on the whole.

It's quite all right if people want
To believe in their hearts that angels exist.
But I admit that I'm a skeptic
And do not want to be on that list.

I bet that most believers, however,
Do not think that angels have wings
And sit around in flowing gowns,
Holding their harps and plucking the strings.

Angels, spirits, ghosts, and demons
Are interesting and make great stories.
I find them entertaining, and I
Place them in similar categories.

Mythological characters
Are fascinating, and I suppose
That from our human collective unconscious
Such fantastical figures arose.

Do you believe in guardian angels?
Again, it's perfectly fine if you do.
Mine are doctors, nurses, teachers,
Friends, and paramedics, too.

So if I tell you that you're an angel,
You know I mean it figuratively.
It means you're special, and that is something
About which we would both agree.

-by Bob B (7-30-23)

I woke up and straightaway
I felt the spirit of Christmas Day,
Although the day was cold and gray
On Christmas Day in the morning.

The memories of Christmas past--
Many of which are unsurpassed--
Are memories I hope will last
On Christmas Day in the morning.

No matter what all people believe,
The spirit of giving to which we cleave
Is possible for us all to achieve
On Christmas Day in the morning.

In order to save the human race,
Here's a goal we can all embrace:
Let's make the world a better place
On Christmas Day in the morning.

Spread goodwill and hopes for peace.
May our love and wisdom increase,
And may injustice and anger cease
On Christmas Day in the morning.

On Christmas Day we spread our cheer.
Let's spread it every day of the year.
We can do it if we're sincere
On Christmas Day in the morning.

-by Bob B (12-25-21)

The days feel wintry; nights are cold.
We're trying to spread some holiday cheer.
But once again it's a COVID Christmas--
A little bit like the one last year.

We've made some progress in fighting the virus.
I got my vaccine and should feel protected.
Too bad there is so much resistance
To something that stops us from being infected.

Many people sing songs about joy,
Peace on earth, and goodwill toward all,
While at the same time they've disregarded
The rising COVID numbers this fall.

To help us stay safe and also enjoy
More holiday seasons, we cannot let
Ourselves be guided by lies that spread
On both the TV and the internet.

To put an end to this dreadful pandemic,
Cooperation must be greater.
What is now an inconvenience
Will be a giant help to us later.

'Tis the season for celebrating.
Whatever that means, we will see
That if we take precautions, we'll make
Next year's holidays COVID free.

-by Bob B (12-15-21)

Christmas 2017
Approaches and Santa is checking his list
To make sure that he is on target
And also to see if errors exist.

"****!" the jolly man exclaims,
And quickly does a double take.
"It looks as though Republicans
In Congress want a big tax break.

"That is good for some; however,
Others will have to lose out for sure.
The biggest benefits go to the wealthy,
While help for the poor is miniature.

"I mean, the poor and middle class.
Most people should understand it's
Hard for me to justify
Helping a few to make out like bandits.

"Tax cuts for the corporations
Will be permanent, but what's scary
Is tax cuts for most Americans
Will only be temporary.

"They always scream, 'Deficit! Deficit!'
At least that's what they advertise.
By 1.4 trillion dollars
The deficit is going to rise

"With this bill! To make up the difference,
Later they'll cause more despair
By making major cuts to Social
Security and Medicare.

"While some will win, millions will lose
Health care if their tax bill passes.
Regarding trickle down, what trickles
Is negligible and as slow as molasses.

"From all that I have seen and heard,
Tax cuts don't create prosperity.
Don't the members of Congress know
Their bill is lacking in popularity?

"I want their holiday to be happy,
But how can I please everyone?
****! Sometimes being Santa
Is really NOT very much fun!"

-by Bob B (11-30-17)

What? Another indictment in Trumpworld?
How could anyone be surprised?
In Trump's realm, crime and corruption
Have become quite normalized.

This time it is Thomas Barrack.
Of course, he's made a not-guilty plea,
Denying the charges of acting as
An agent for the UAE.°

Barrack is now the eleventh Trump
Associate, who since twenty fifteen
Has been charged with federal crimes.
This time Trump can't intervene

And dangle a pardon in front of him--
Something he's been known to do.
He has other challenges now
Since he couldn't pull off his coup.

Every day the world discovers
More of what Trump's all about.
And why people STILL support him
Is difficult to figure out.

Journalist Michelle Goldberg
Describes the astonishing situation
That we are experiencing
Currently as “scandal inflation.”

Scandal after scandal has made
The weary public become inured
To further scandals. The lines between
Right and wrong are now obscured.

Integrity or deceitful corruption--
Some people prefer the latter.
And many turn their heads and pretend
That certain crimes just do not matter.

All the more reason the U.S. needs
Leaders who put their country before
Their greed and own self-interests.
Grift and corruption, nevermore!

-by Bob B (7-24-21)

°United Arab Emirates

Dear Donald, I have to say
How much I love our private jokes,
Especially the one that we
Both have called the Russian hoax.

You have learned a lot from me.
Fortunately, you're on my team.
All the power that I have
For you, however, is just a dream.

But keep up your strategy
Of duping the public. True, you'll find
You cannot fool everyone.
But there's one thing to bear in mind:

The more you condemn your nasty critics
And put the critical press on trial,
The more power you'll have. Can you--
While reading this-- see me smile?

The 2020 election will be
Very important. We can thwart
Your Democratic opponent, so
Let me know if you need support.

If you say a cloud has been lifted,
Then I think we both agree
That if you lift some sanctions, you'll
Lift the cloud that's over me.

I like how your trust in me
Overshadows the trust in your own
Experts there. For more advice,
Call me on the telephone.

By the way, I have to say,
I'm still counting every hour
Till I can have my penthouse view
From high atop your Moscow tower.

I'll support you, by the way,
But don't ask me to be your caddie.
I can dig up dirt on any-
One you want. Your friend, Vladdy.

-by Bob B (5-7-19)

In Texas, near San Antonio,
Lived a couple--two great guys,
Phillip and Tony, happily married,
But that shouldn't be a surprise.

Tony was a councilman;
Phillip owned a beauty shop.
All was well till COVID-19,
And then everything came to a stop.

Phillip grew ill and saw his doctor,
Who sent him home with some meds. So far,
His illness wasn't advanced, but soon
He had to be taken to the ER.

Tony also grew ill and tried
To stay home for as long as he could.
When he was rushed to the hospital,
Things were NOT looking so good.

Tony was placed in the room next to Phillip,
Who had been on a respirator.
Phillip's body gave out and he died;
Tony died a few hours later.

Phillip's mother had been living
With the two men, and she, too, came down
With the same virus, and so she must grieve
All by herself in the small Texan town.

Together at Fort Sam Houston, Phillip
And Tony will be laid to rest.
While living, the two men had each other.
At least we can say that they had been blessed.

This is just one of the many sad stories
That COVID-19 has brought to the fore.
Until the virus is under control,
We know for certain that there will be more.

-by Bob B (4-19-20)

For twenty-three years, overlooking
The I-65 in Tennessee,
A 25-foot statue stood--
A statue portraying infamy.

The figure was Nathan Bedford Forrest,
Riding a horse, and who, by the way,
Was a Confederate general
And founder of the KKK.

The lawyer for the man who killed
Martin Luther King created
The statue, which was hideous.
It's ugliness couldn't be overstated.

Surrounded by thirteen Confederate flags,
The statue stood for twenty-three years.
On Tuesday this week the statue was toppled.
Most people will shed no tears.

The property owner, Bill Dorris,
Claimed he wasn't a racist. Why?
Because Blacks had worked for him.
All we can say is, Dorris, nice try.

But listen to this: He also said
That it was good to be a slave
Because the enslaved were given job
Security from cradle to grave.

What the…?

Dorris died in 2020;
However, racism isn't gone.
If we're going to end the scourge,
We must confront the issue head-on.

-by Bob B (12-8-21)

On Valentine’s Day three years ago
A high school shooting shook the nation.
Seventeen lives were taken in Parkland,
Florida, an indication

That something is wrong--terribly wrong--
In what has been called "the land of the free,"
Where easy access to weapons of war
Led to this brutal killing spree.

Each year after the deadly occurrence,
People meet to remember and pray,
While those directly affected by
The shooting suffer day after day.

Parents, siblings, relatives, and friends--
Before that nightmare--never expected
For loved ones to have to experience
The horror to which they'd been subjected.

And yet there are some people who call
The shootings in Parkland a "false flag."
Tell that to parents of kid after kid
Who left the school in a body bag!

That too many lives are lost in deadly
Shootings here is a bone-chilling fact.
We MUST do more than merely remember
The lives that were lost. We must act!

-by Bob B (2-17-21)

Sometimes you see her admiring herself
In the mirror that's hanging next to the shelf.
And when she does it, oh, how she shines!
Is that, dear cat, how you practice your lines?
She seems not to care if we pay attention,
But maybe right here I ought to make mention
That being an actress, she's disinclined
To always reveal what's going on in her mind.
And she'll never, never tell you her age--
Aphrodite, the cat of the stage.

She says, "You know…I'm not one to cuss,
But when I am hungry, I WILL make a fuss."
Yes, she can certainly put on a scene
And act as though she's an importunate queen.
She says, "My dears, if I'm weak or mild,
I'll never drive the audience wild."
That critical scene is repeated each night--
A regular tour de force all right.
Yes, it's best to try to assuage
Aphrodite, the cat of the stage.

Her eyes were surely her greatest feature;
She THUS scoured the town for a drama teacher,
"Who," she says dolefully, "told me one night he
Could make me a star. ME: Aphrodite!"
But as it turned out, ol' Mr. Mittens
Made her instead a mom of eight kittens.
"But," she says, "THAT'S between you and me.
You know how I like my privacy."
It's good to always be on the same page
With Aphrodite, the cat of the stage.

One thing you learn is for her it's the norm
To act a bit slighted when asked to perform.
She must be totally in the mood
Or else she behaves in a manner subdued.
And heaven help you if you are neglectful
Of if her audience is disrespectful.
She'll exit the room like a "cat" out of hell,
And you may not see her for quite a long spell.
You never want to see her rage--
Aphrodite, the cat of the stage.

She sighs and says, "It's such a shame that
Few playwrights write good roles for a cat.
My friends say--when they see me upset--
'Commercials might be a better bet.'
My talents, however, as you might have guessed,
Best fit the stage. But now I must rest."
With that she lifted her nose in the air
And strutted out of the room with great flair.
It's always nice: advice from a sage
Like Aphrodite, the cat of the stage.

-by Bob B (1-24-20)

Once there was a nation, which
Boasted of its wealth and size.
In that nation lies became truth,
And truth became known as lies.

Thus, the country corroborated
An expert's wise and salient prediction
That soon the people everywhere
Wouldn't know fact from fiction.

"Science is irrelevant,"
The leaders of the land decreed.
"Clamp down on critical thinking
And we'll maintain control indeed."

The people became MORE baffled,
MORE confused, MORE perplexed,
And wondered what kind of craziness
They were going to encounter next.

The art of political doublespeak
Was praised, encouraged and expanded.
If you called it gobbledygook,
You were severely reprimanded.

Reporters who sought facts were called
"Purveyors of mendacity,"
While those who were irrational
Were "pillars of veracity."

The general rule was answer a question
With a question, or try to deflect
Any queries toward dead ends.
The tactic was called "Misdirect."

The leader was an expert at
Duplicity and subterfuge.
Ruling without intelligence
Can work when a person's ego is HUGE.

Sad it was to see such a land
Change from what it once had been.
Not until people opened their eyes
Would things improve. Not until then.

- by Bob B (3-21-17)

Trump continues his ongoing tirade
With baseless claims of voter fraud.
The more he rants and raves the more
We can all see through his façade.

He's what you call a "poor winner."
How easy it is to get his goat!
He just cannot stand the thought
That Clinton won the popular vote.

Demonizing the media therefore
Preoccupies Trump and his team.
Dumbing down the American public
Will be for them a constant theme.

The claims of voter fraud are only
An excuse to suppress voting rights--
An issue which must be added to
Our growing list of ongoing fights.

If we are not vigilant,
If instead we turn a blind eye
To what is really happening here,
Kiss democracy good-by.

- by Bob B (11-29-16)

Nonsense from the folks on the Right
Continues to plague us every day.
It's as though we're all on a stage,
Caught in the midst of a nihilist play.

A Texas school administrator
Told her staff to interfuse
Books about the Holocaust
With books containing opposing views!

Here's what that means: if they have books
About the Holocaust on their racks,
Opposing books must be included,
Or Holocaust books must be given the ax.

When going in that direction, people
Are treading on dangerous territory,
For when we talk of the Holocaust,
There are NOT two sides to the story.

Other appalling news: Trump
Is coopting the GOP
By taking it hostage so he can secure
His role as a future nominee.

All Republicans who fail
To push his giant election lie
When they run in future races
Are going to have to say bye-bye.

If they don't obey his command,
He'll tell people not to vote.
That will hurt the Republicans,
And he will just sit back and gloat.

There's something we must understand:
The soul of our nation is in peril.
All it takes is a little poison
To ruin the water that fills a barrel.

-by Bob B (10-16-21)

(This poem can be sung to the tune of Gilbert and Sullivan's song "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General.")

(Critic)
He is a prime example of a modern racist president.
What a shame he has to be the current White House resident.
He lacks so much in what it takes to truly be an honest man.
What is so amazing is how anyone can be a fan.
He knows how to maximize racial hatred. What a shame!
He wonders why he's criticized; he only has himself to blame.
Watch his motivations in the policies he puts in place.
To him race-baiting is the way to strongly galvanize his base.

(Chorus)
To him race-baiting is the way to strongly galvanize his base.
To him race-baiting is the way to strongly galvanize his base.
To him race-baiting is the way to strongly galvanize his base, his base!

(Critic)
He knows how to stir the ***, for racists all give him a nod.
He has many people fooled to think that he's a man of God.
What a shame he has to be the current White House resident,
For he's a prime example of a modern racist president.

(Chorus)
What a shame he has to be the current White House resident,
For he's a prime example of a modern racist president.

(Critic)
For many years he said Barack Obama wasn't born here. No!
His many racist words and actions date way back to long ago.
Now he's telling Congresswomen in a tweet and with a sneer
That they should go back home but it so happens that their home is here.
He never wants to criticize supporters' hateful, racist views.
Sadly, white supremacists are those from whom he gets his cues.
He doesn't think that putting kids in cages is insanity,
Or realize his policies are crimes against humanity.

(Chorus)
Or realize his policies are crimes against humanity.
Or realize his policies are crimes against humanity.
Or realize his policies are crimes against human-humanity.

(Critic)
He knows to win elections all you have to do is lie and cheat.
He lashes out at other folks because he cannot take the heat.
What a shame he has to be the current White House resident,
For he's a prime example of a modern racist president.

(Chorus)
What a shame he has to be the current White House resident,
For he's a prime example of a modern racist president.

-by Bob B (7-16-19)

A protest vote?° What the hell?
It really makes no sense.
Young voters can protest, but
It's at their own expense.

A protest vote? Trump over Biden
To shake up the status quo?
That's like shooting oneself in the foot:
Not voting for Joe.

A protest vote? What exactly
Are they trying to prove?
That putting Trump in the White House again
Is an appropriate move?

A protest vote? They'd rather have
A con man and a fake--
A man who caters to Putin when
So much is at stake?

A protest vote? As though Trump has
THEIR interests at heart?
To vote in an egomaniac
Wouldn't be very smart.

A protest vote? They'll find out
If off to the right they swerve,
That come November they will get
The turmoil that they deserve.

-by Bob B (3-23-24)

°Based on reports of protest votes in the primaries

It's going to be a quiet Thanksgiving.
But that's all right--that's okay.
Caution now means better chances
Of seeing a future Thanksgiving Day.

Yes, it's sad that COVID-19
Happens to be our current reality.
But hopefully within a year,
We will see a return to normality.

Now with COVID numbers rising
And hospitals filling, it's getting scary.
To get the pandemic under control,
A bit of prudence is necessary.

There can still be turkey roasting,
Gravy simmering, potatoes boiling,
And homemade pumpkin pie beckoning…
And I'll be in the kitchen toiling.

The situation's not ideal,
But we'll get through this; we'll make do,
FaceTiming our family
And having Thanksgiving dinner for two.

-by Bob B (11-22-20)

Racism in politics:
Shouldn't it be a deal breaker?
But in some places it
Appears to be a deal maker.

A candidate who jokes about
Public hangings and embraces
Voter suppression candidly
Can win elections in certain places.

She can wear a confederate cap
And pose with a rifle. Would she brag
About her segregation academy
Photo with a confederate flag?

Racism is a monster with
Tentacles reaching far and wide.
Many grasped by its hateful clutches
Often deny it, but how they've lied!

I used to think that humans had
Progressed, and my naïveté
Made it hard to accept that it
Existed in the world today.

But, oh, it is alive and well--
Sometimes blatant, sometimes systemic.
It must be countered by understanding,
Empathy, and fierce polemic.

-by Bob B (11-28-18)

The long war in Afghanistan…
Now, when all is said and done,
What started out as a war with a cause,
Turned out being a losing one.

The longest war in U.S. history…
Did we ever have clear goals?
Explanations for why we stayed there
For twenty years are full of holes.

At first, going after al-Qaeda
And Bin Laden was our claim.
Eventually, it turned out that
Nation-building became our aim.

Propping up the Karzai regime…
To some that was a colossal flop.
We organized from top to bottom
Instead of going from bottom to top.

A government, unstable, corrupt,
In a country full of feuding tribes…
Democracy to the Afghans became
A system mainly built on bribes.

We thought we had made headway there,
But then we encountered a stumbling block:
Our focus shifted when we were misled
To get involved in a war in Iraq.

We tried to fight the ***** trade--
Another problem we tried to master.
Unfortunately, it turned out that
Our efforts were a complete disaster.

Others with whom we negotiated,
Sometimes took us for a ride,
Leaving us without an inkling
As to who was on whose side.

Warlords who we know had committed
Atrocities, became our friends.
Scenarios where that plays out
Usually have disastrous ends.

A dark pit of endless money
That led the way to grift and greed…
We were bent on building projects
That the Afghans didn't need.

When we bombed a wedding party
And a hospital, let it be noted
That those in command hid our blunders.
The truth was often sugar-coated.

"We are NOT nation-building,"
And "Victory is in sight," we heard.
One thing we should know by now
Is we can't hang on their every word.

We lament the lives that were lost
And all who were wounded during the war.
We also lament the loss of trust
In our leaders. That will be hard to restore.

-by Bob B (1-21-22)

"When your daddy's filthy rich,
Take the opportunity
To use his wealth so you'll become
A SELF-MADE billionaire like me.

"Dubious tax schemes help a lot
When Daddy Trump's income waxes.
You and he can benefit from
Committing fraud and dodging taxes.

"A sham corporation allows
You to disguise millions in "gifts."
Improper tax deductions
Speed along these money shifts.

"Undervalue real estate holdings
By millions of dollars. We've deduced
That when the property's transferred, your
Tax bill will be greatly reduced.

"Be creative, explore loopholes--
Even deception and obfuscation.
If you're under scrutiny,
Feign utter indignation.

"Later, when your fortune increases,
Say that you have serious concerns
About the need for anyone
To see your personal tax returns.

"****** your fans by spinning your tale.
Lie, cheat, do what you can
To let them think their president
Is from the start a SELF-MADE man."

-by Bob B (10-3-18)

I like a tasty gin and tonic,
Margarita, or daiquiri.
Whiskey, bourbon, scotch, or *****
Really don't do much for me.

But wine--ah!--a good glass of wine
Sits at the top of my preference list,
And when I'm in a social mood,
A glass of wine is hard to resist.

The words "social mood" are key,
For when I drink wine, I say with no shame
That if it isn't shared with somebody
Else, it doesn’t taste the same.

Yes, the shared experience
Is what gives wine its special flavor.
Every glass is a new adventure,
And every sip is something to savor.

Whether it's creamy, flamboyant, bold,
Fruity, bright, complex or not,
Fleshy, oaky, toasty, velvety,
Crisp, or buttery, wine hits the spot.

So any time you have a bottle
To share on any day of the week,
Bring it over. I've got the glasses.
Oh-la-la! C'est magnifique!

-by Bob B (1-16-22)

As Putin pulls the puppet strings,
The marionettes all dance.
If the strings are hard to see,
Take another glance.

The marionettes think they are
Real people now.
They think their voices are their own.
They smile and take a bow.

But towering above them there,
The puppeteer controls
The actions of his little friends
And figures out their roles.

So in control of the strings in Russia,
Putin makes it clear:
Show resistance to him and you will
Die or disappear.

Heads of state and businessmen
In countries large and small,
Romp around on Putin's stage.
How he loves them all!

Do they know their puppeteer
Would just as soon combat them?
Don't they see that Putin's laughing
Not WITH or FOR but AT them?

-by Bob B (5-25-17)

So Putin helps Trump win an election
And subsequently feels elated.
He is still anticipating
How he will be compensated.
Who are the ones who cheer and clap
As Putin takes a victory lap?

Watching the Trump administration
Blame and distrust the FBI
Also tickles Putin as Trump
Makes it a target to vilify.
Watch Putin cheer and clap
As he takes a victory lap.

When Trump says he doesn't believe
Our intelligence agents here
But eagerly accepts whatever
Putin tells him, one thing's clear:
Trump is willing to cheer and clap
As Putin takes a victory lap.

When Russia starts a conspiracy theory
And blames Ukraine for election meddling,
Many Trumplicans here believe
The devious lies that the Kremlin is peddling.
How can Americans cheer and clap
As Putin takes a victory lap?

When Trump speaks with the president
Of Ukraine and crudely tries to extort
Favors from the Ukrainians
And threatens to pull U.S. support,
Putin supporters cheer and clap
As Putin takes a victory lap.

As here we see a chilling loss
Of democratic values, we
Will ask ourselves whatever happened
To hope and opportunity.
Who then will cheer and clap
As Putin takes a victory lap?

-by Bob B (12-12-19)

DJT:
Oh, look and you'll see that the Chosen One's me.
I just know I'll prevail 'cause my base does what I say.
Regulations must go, and my critics will see
That my tax returns will never see the light of day.
And I'll protect the rights that I've kept in my sights:
Breaks for the wealthy and more favors for whites.
I'll defy any who criticize my ways,
For I crave people's respect, and I want tons of praise.

Oh, look at me now and at all that I've done.
All the fake news won't say just how popular I've been.
Oh, worldwide I'm loved; they say I'm number one.
What's the problem if I make a few bucks now and then?
The emoluments clause is one of those laws,
That only restricts and is loaded with flaws.
I'll defy any who criticize my ways,
For I crave people's respect, and I want tons of praise.

You can call me a star; better yet, if you please,
You can call me your king, but the Second Coming's fine.
Just the thought gives me bliss, makes me weak at the knees.
I will do what I want; I think power's so divine.
So to boost my campaign, no way will I refrain
From making some calls to get help from Ukraine.
I'll defy any who criticize my ways,
For I crave people's respect, and I want tons of praise.

I might lie, cheat, and steal if they are a must.
My power's not up for grabs, and to keep it I must fight.
I will strive to defend all the rich upper crust.
I will sabotage all congressional oversight.
I'll create so much fear and I'll be so severe
That immigrants won't even dare to come here.
I'll defy any who criticize my ways,
For I crave people's respect, and I want tons of praise.

-by Bob B (9-24-19)

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "When the Red, Red Robin Comes Bob, Bob, Bobbin' Along," by Harry Woods)

Oh, as the bug we're dreading keeps
Spread…spread…spreading around…around,
We should keep on trying to
Stop supplying a breeding ground.
Just get…just get…
Just get your shot.
A big…a big…
Big risk it's not.
Here's some…here's some…
Some food for thought:
You'll…be…better protected.

Now it's Omicron;
When will it be gone?
No one knows.
New mutations will
Cause frustrations, and
So it goes.
Let’s do our best to stay
Healthy, and so I say,
Be safe and sound,
As the bug we're dreading keeps
Spread…spread…spreading around.

-by Bob B (1-26-22)

Mitch McConnell and fellow Republicans
For almost a year refused to budge
On President Obama's nominee
To serve as a U.S. Supreme Court judge.

As East Coast prime-time drama,
Trump made a big reveal:
To serve on the Court, a staunch conservative
Nominee--the real deal.

The judge, recommended by alt-right
Extremist Bannon and far-right groups,
Is going to have to prove himself
By jumping through a series of hoops.

The Right wants a judge whose thinking is based
On what our Founding Fathers wrote.
Oh, is that when Blacks were slaves
And women weren't allowed to vote?

Democrats in the Senate must learn
From die-hard Republicans--*** for tat--
How to be obstructionists.
Republicans have been experts at that.

-by Bob B (2-1-17)

So God, the Supreme Being, Creator--
Whatever you want to call Him--sat
And looked down upon the planet
That was the Earthlings' habitat.

"My, oh, my!" He said to himself.
"What I've done is truly insane:
I gave people a way to think,
But some aren't able use their brain.

"Terminating pregnancies
Isn't an issue that's black or white.
But I gave people the means to do it;
Each must decide to do what's right.

"I gave people excellent doctors,
Safe methods, facilities,
And people who offer expert advice
In keeping with their abilities.

"What I can see occurring right now
Is SOME want to choose what's "right" for OTHERS.
Whether to carry a child to term
Should be entirely up to the mothers.

"My God--oops, I said it again--
It really frustrates me when I find
That people down there claim to know
What is happening in my mind.

"This is my goal for everybody:
It's incumbent on you to look
Inside your heart and do not base
All your decisions on any one book.

"Extremist ideologies!
They are disgusting to me, and yet
People love to involve me in them.
We need a sit-down--a tête-à-tête.

"But right now I have other problems.
I've been watching two nations collide.
Ridiculously, each of the countries
Thinks that I am on its side."

-by Bob B (6-25-22)

The frigid winter was colder than ever.
The porcupines, both young and old,
Were deeply concerned, for animal friends
Were dying because of the bitter cold.

Therefore, they decided that
It would behoove them all to form
A close-knit group. Huddled together,
They could keep one another warm.

It seemed like a good idea at first,
But then they agreed with unanimity
That being so close was not working out:
Their quills pricked porcupines in proximity.

But later they learned that separated,
They were worse off, for no denying,
Unable to keep one another warm,
The freezing porcupines were dying.

If they planned to survive the winter,
They had to act, and so they decided
That being banded together was more
Beneficial than being divided.

And so they grouped together again,
Realizing that they could endure
The little jabs from the others' quills,
But they would survive the winter for sure.

The moral: when we look at life
And consider all our interconnections,
It's best if we can learn to live
With one another's imperfections.

Another way to look at the story:
Life can be painful, but we should strive
To put up with all the ****** in life
If we truly want to survive.

-by Bob B (1-20-20)

°A popular tale (author unknown) retold here in verse

Once upon a time,
There was a Distant Land--
In the north were hills and valleys,
In the south desert sand.

Once a powerful empire,
This land now faced a threat
From outside intervention
That many would regret.

It welcomed a Mighty Country's
Involvement from far away--
Not fully realizing
The role that it would play.

A group from the Mighty Country
Helped organize a coup,
Destabilizing the other
And setting things askew.

A new regime replaced
The one that had been deposed.
However, the regime's tyranny
Soon became disclosed.

Discontentment grew;
The leader fled for his life
And begged the Mighty Country
For asylum for himself and his wife.

The people in the Distant Land--
Angry and abused--
Wanted their leader returned;
The Mighty Country refused.

So, the people took
Matters into their own hands,
Taking fifty-two hostages
For negotiating demands.

For 444 days
Conditions remained very tense
Until the release of the captives.
The damage was immense.

"Be careful what you ask for"
Is a common phrase.
The Distant Land now suffered
Tyranny in other ways.

The new religious leader
Ruled with an iron fist
And added more names
To his enemy list.

Eventually the Distant Country
Was attacked by its Neighbor,
Which received outside assistance
To help it sharpen its saber.

Help--for example--
From the Mighty Nation consisted
Of the selling of poisonous chemicals.
Frankly, that sounds pretty twisted.

Imagine the horrible suffering
From a war that went on and on--
Ending eight long years after
Battle lines had been drawn.

The Distant Once-Glorious Nation
And the Mighty Nation maintained
Their strained, aggressive relationship
From which nothing was gained.

Both accused the other
Of harboring evil intentions;
Both stubbornly resisted
Peaceful interventions.

The people were the ones who suffered
From dis- and misinformation.
The ones caught in the middle
Always experience privation.

Could this story end
Not with tears but with laughter?
Will the two ever live
Happily ever after?

- by Bob B

Vladimir Putin had nothing to do
With THIS poem. Let me be clear.
(Nowadays it's hard to tell
How much the Russians interfere.)

Oh, of course, he could assign
An Internet troll to try to denounce me--
To criticize my rhythm and rhyme,
To shame, condemn, or verbally trounce me.

But Putin, alas, has many more
Important matters to address--
How to influence American elections
And cause confusion, more or less.

Long ago many Americans
Were troubled by the "Red Scare."
Now they welcome with open arms
This autocratic billionaire

Who stifles dissent, stomps on rights,
And benefits from corruption as well.
How many opponents has Putin
Disappeared? Hard to tell.

How people see the things they see
Is strangely and fearfully odd--
How they perceive a leader's illusion
And miss the monster behind the façade.

As more experts connect the dots,
They are wondering what protections
Can be implemented to stop
Outside meddling in future elections.

To quote Sir Walter Scott, "Oh,
What a tangled web we weave…."
How much more interference
Does Putin have up his sleeve?

-by Bob B (10-10-17)

Trump has found another target.
This time it's Meryl Streep.
Once again he's demonstrated
How his thirst for vengeance runs deep.

He didn't like a comment that she
Had made at the Golden Globes, and so
He blasted her with a series of tweets--
Three tweets all in a row.

Streep had referred to a disabled news
Reporter whom Trump had imitated.
Trump lashed back, saying the award-
Winning actress was "over-rated."

A mature and intelligent man
Would move on and do what it takes
To model decent behavior, but that
Is difficult for a man with no brakes.

Poor Trump is still stuck
In the na-na-na-na-na-stage,
Which makes him appear childish and is
Unbecoming for someone his age.

- By Bob B (1-10-17)

A farmer working in a field
Felt compassion for his horse--
A tired, overworked jade.
He let it go with no remorse.

When villagers discovered that
The farmer's horse had been set free,
They wondered how the man would prosper.
The farmer succinctly said, "We'll see."

Days later the farmer's horse
Returned to the poor man's piece of land,
Bringing along several others,
Eager to give a helping hand.

The villagers heard the wonderful news
And rushed to share the farmer's glee.
"How fortunate you are!" they said.
The farmer merely replied, "We'll see."

The next day the villagers
Watched with ghastly fear in their faces
The son fall while training the horses
And break his leg in numerous places.

Lamenting the farmer's sad misfortune,
They asked how he would ever be
Able to work the land on his own.
The farmer again replied, "We'll see."

Soon a terrible war broke out.
The emperor needed able young men.
Because of his broken leg, the farmer's
Son was excused from duty. Again

The villagers went to the farmer, saying
"Your son escaped the emperor's decree.
How lucky for both of you!" The farmer
Responded by only saying, "We'll see."

Even though the son's leg healed,
The son walked with a definite limp.
Village children viciously teased him,
Calling him a klutz and a gimp.

The villagers came to see the farmer,
Their words of pity staggeringly
Effusive. "Aren't you sad?" they asked.
The farmer smiled and said, "We'll see."

The sons of the villagers died in the war.
The farmer, along with his only son,
Worked the land, grew quite wealthy,
And never complained to anyone.

Once in a while he'd meet his friends
And chat over a cup of tea.
"How lucky you are!" they'd say to him.
He'd shrug his shoulders and say, "We'll see."

- By Bob B (2-21-17)

°An old Chinese tale retold in verse

When dealing with a serious crisis,
We need a leader whose words inspire us,
Not one who tries to cover up facts
In dealing with the spread of a virus.

Coronavirus (COVID 19)
Around the globe is quickly spreading.
If we--the public--remain uninformed,
Into what dark abyss are we heading?

At first the president seemed less concerned
About our welfare--our protection--
And more concerned about how the matter
Affects his chances of reelection.

Downplaying the words of the experts,
He doesn't want the markets to panic.
If we aren't told the truth, however,
The consequences could be titanic.

Censoring the information
From health officials isn't wise.
We will be subjected to more
Of the Trump administration's lies.

For Mike Pence to lead the response
Doesn't make any sense at all.
When dealing with a health crisis
In Indiana, he dropped the ball.

Governmental agencies
Created to deal with crises as such,
Have been hollowed out by Trump,
Who has the reverse Midas touch.

The head of the HHS:° guess who.
A former lobbyist! Oh, yes.
And for big pharma. Watch him make
The crisis into a bigger mess.

Trump must be the protagonist
In every drama, someone has said.
While he blathers, how many people
Will die from having been misled?

A leader needs certain qualities
To fight all kinds of vicious attacks:
Honesty and competence--
Two important things ours lacks.

-by Bob B (2-28-20)

°Health and Human Services

Caution! Watch out for Russian bots.
They're out there to deceive you.
Share if you will the messages,
But who do you think will believe you?

Bots show up on the screen of your phone,
Your tablet, or your computer,
And if you're on to their tactics, they
Resemble a pesky suitor.

Suitor? No, more like a stalker--
Disruptive and insidious--
Whose sly, deceitful game plan is
Destructive and invidious.

Recognizing the bots in social
Media isn't so hard.
But many a Twitter or Facebook fan
Is frequently caught off guard.

The bots are extremely useful for
Encouraging disconnections.
They've also proved to be handy for
Influencing elections.

Putin will say, "Bots? What bots?"
Ah, but he's a sly one!
If he can strengthen a road to disruption,
He will fortify one.

Hazards of our computer age:
Troll farms and bots,
Causing frustration and trying to
Manipulate our thoughts.

-by Bob B (2-28-18)

Don’t worry, people;
So far it’s not a threat
To human beings; I mean,
It hasn’t attacked us YET.
 
You think that we have problems?
Ants have problems, too.
For us, bacteria and viruses
Seem to come out of the blue.
 
In Brazil a zombie ant fungus
Affects carpenter ants.
When the hosts are infected,
They climb up nearby plants,
 
Leaving their homes and colonies.
It’s hard to understand why,
But they clutch onto the leaves
And hang there waiting to die.
 
After their death a stalk
Grows from their body, and so
Spores from that fungus
Infect the ants down below.
 
The cycle then continues.
Don’t you wonder whether
The ants could figure it out?—
Put 2 and 2 together?
 
When ants are hanging from leaves,
The other ones shouldn't neglect them.
Their failure to address the matter
Will fatally affect them.
 
For all of us creatures on earth,
When everything seems A-OK,
Nature seems to manage
To throw a curve ball our way.
 
We have our own worries—
Both natural and man-made
Issues that we should confront,
And not ignore or evade.

- by Bob B

Look at the ways--the despicable ways--
That Trump tried to achieve his coup
By pressuring officials in Georgia
With a repeated turn of the *****.

First, a ballot signature audit
In Cobb County. All was fine.
Next, he pressured Governor Kemp--
This time also crossing the line.

He wanted Kemp to do something
To which Kemp raised an objection--
To push for a legislative session
To change the results of Georgia's election.

That didn't work, and so Trump called
Georgia's secretary of state
To pressure him to do his bidding
In hopes that he'd step up to the plate.

He asked Raffensperger to "find"
Enough votes so that he could win.
Of course, Raffensperger declined.
To him, cheating would be a sin.

So then Trump asked the U.S. attorney
Of the state of Georgia to make false claims
Regarding election fraud, another
One of Trump's deceitful games.

That attempt also failed,
So Trump tried to weaponize
The DOJ to pressure Georgia
By sending a letter full of lies--

A letter written by Jeffrey Clark,
One of Trump's toadies and partners in crime.
Once again, Trump's efforts failed,
But people say it came close this time.

An election worker, Ruby Freeman,
Was the following target, for she
Was accused of election fraud--
Accused unjustifiably.

Both Freeman AND her daughter
Have been harassed and threatened as well.
Because they wouldn't support Trump's lie,
Their lives have become a living hell.

In January, Trump told his thugs
To march to the Capitol, and when
They did, utter chaos took place,
And we all know what happened then.

Georgia was merely one state among many.
But Trump even now continues to plot,
And even though his coup attempt failed,
The next time he tries, it might not.

-by Bob B (12-11-21)

The human attention span, they say,
Is getting shorter every day.
With so many distractions now,
People need a constant "Wow!"

Many get no satisfaction
Unless they are bombarded with action.
Instant gratification's a must;
A lengthy article's a bust.

Who spends hours with MOBY ****?
People prefer an action flick.
A long book now is hard to sell
And is a modern reader's hell.

Work makes students feel constrained
Unless they can be entertained.
Reading selections make us happy
Only if they're short and snappy.

Letter writing? A dying art.
We want our info à la carte.
Concentration only succeeds
If it fulfills immediate needs.

And some will ask for no repentance
If they can't get through this sentence.
Exaggeration? Perhaps, and yet,
There's some truth in it, I bet.

If none of this applies to you,
Then you deserve a loud "Woo-hoo!"
Enjoy some quiet time alone,
And most importantly, turn off your phone!

-by Bob B (1-9-21)