Ladies and gentlemen, here you have
An amazing three-ring circus before you.
You might want to turn your heads.
But keep your focus; we implore you.

Center ring: Peter Strzok--
Top spy finder of the FBI.
On the right: House Republicans.
Their main goal: to mortify.

Ring on the left: Democrats,
Giving Strzok some vital support
While the clowns in the other ring
Make of the show a kangaroo court.

Gowdy--the walking dead of Congress
Who's always eager for moments of glory--
Stirs up disorder and chaos as he
Tries to obscure the REAL story:

The details of what was really behind
Russian meddling in our elections.
Instead, he and the ones on the right
Labor to make foolish connections.

They are determined to prove their point.
Watch them as they grasp at straws
To smear the FBI and show
How it suffers from major flaws.

Gowdy, Gaetz, Jordan, and others--
All on the conspiratorial team--
Are loyal NOT to America but
To themselves and the Trump regime.

Their blatant behavior is the kind
That makes honest truth-seekers seethe.
Their heads are so far up their you-know-whats
It's hard to imagine how they can breathe.

What a show or spectacle--
One that's embarrassing to boot!
One clown makes a fool of himself;
The other clowns will follow suit.

-by Bob B (7-13-18)

Try to imagine how it feels--
And this does happen, bear in mind--
To be told by another person,
"Sorry, but we don't serve your kind."

Try to imagine what it's like
To hear over and over that you
Cannot enjoy the same rights
That the majority of people do

Because of the color of your skin,
Beliefs, or ****** orientation.
Humankind is crippled by
Despicable discrimination.

You can apply faulty logic
And you can be falsely pious,
Using contrived arguments
To cleverly justify your bias.

Such sophistry comes to nothing.
Falling short right from the start,
It treats humanity with contempt
And reveals a hollow human heart.

What a wonderful world we'd have
If the whole human race
Embraced the powerful idea that
Discrimination had no place!

-by Bob B (8-20-17)

What a trip! Have you ever
Had a capsule endoscopy?
The prepping procedure's exactly what
You do for a colonoscopy.

It's SO much fun! Of course, I don't
Have to say I'm being sarcastic.
The feeling of peeing out one's rear
Isn't a feeling I'd call fantastic.

After the prep, it's all downhill.
A pill-like camera is ingested--
One that travels through the body,
Basically unmolested.

Wires taped to your body
Connect to a monitor, which will record
The camera's journey through your system.
"Everybody, hop on board!

"After the throat, we take a plunge
Down the esophagus. Hurray!
We're now in an empty stomach.
There's no food to get in the way.

"Watch out for those dangerous acids,
Which ask, 'What is this to digest?'
To them a camera passing through
Is NOT a very welcome guest.

"Next stop: the duodenum.
Here we go around the bend.
We still have a ways to go
Before our adventure nears its end.

"The long trek through the small intestine
Is a windy, curvy path
Five to seven meters long.
How many feet? You do the math.

"Say hi to Mr. Appendix
As we leisurely pass him by.
He's not the most appreciated
Part of the human body. Poor guy.

"As we traverse the colon we
Realize the end's in sight.
How refreshing to know that at
The end of the tunnel, there's a light!

"We hope the journey was a safe one
With NO dangers or major surprises.
The prep indeed was the worst part of all,
But life is full of compromises."

What happens to the capsule next
I'll leave to your imagination.
If everything comes out as planned,
That'll be cause for celebration.

- by Bob B (4-4-17)

This is a violent universe.
Galaxies are colliding.
A ******* hole could gobble us up.
From some things there's no hiding.

A meteor could crash into Earth.
It wouldn't just make a din;
The impact and the after-effects
Could surely do us in.

A huge volcano could erupt.
What would be in store?
Much of life could become extinct.
It's happened on Earth before.

Ultimately, a red giant
Will be the fate of our sun,
And we will all be vaporized.
That doesn't sound like fun.

If the universe collapses
Upon itself, well, then
Maybe another big bang would
Happen all over again.

Or if it keeps expanding, we
Would take a different route.
Eventually, everything
Would just fizzle out.

Are there multiple universes?
Are we not alone?
Are they as violent as ours?
So much is unknown.

In the meantime, I'll enjoy
The sun's gorgeous display,
And watch it rise and set and hope
To see another day.

-by Bob B (7-3-23)

Our country is being run by buffoons!
Once more I will shout it:
OUR COUNTRY IS BEING RUN BY BUFFOONS!
And there's no doubt about it.

Trump, of course, is the biggest one,
But people whom he appointed
Are up there with him, showing how badly
Our nation is disjointed.

Top officials conducted a chat°
Of sensitive information,
Which was a major security breach
And cause for consternation.

They used a device system that was
Clearly unclassified,
And later when the story came out,
They hemmed and hawed and lied.

How did the story come out? you ask.
Well, this is the scoop:
They included a journalist
In their discussion group!

None of the members even questioned
The journalist's identity.
Such behavior gives me no
Feelings of serenity.

When you have incompetent people
Placed in key positions,
Their unsafe decisions can lead
To dangerous conditions.

Their discussion put American
Lives in danger. Yikes!
They spoke of the country of Yemen and our
Military strikes.

One of the members was even in Russia!
That can't be excused,
For Russians have tried to hack into
The system the chatters used!

People should be up in arms!
No question as to why.
On hearing the story, Trumplicans merely
Shrug their shoulders and sigh!

-by Bob B (3-26-25)

°Those involved in the Signal group chat:
JD Vance (VP and Trump's attack dog)
Pete Hegseth (defense secretary)
Michael Waltz (national security adviser)
Stephen Miller (deputy chief of staff)
Marco Rubio (secretary of state)
John Ratcliffe (director of the CIA)
Tulsi Gabbard (director of national intelligence)
Steve Witkoff (envoy to Ukraine and the Middle East)
Scott Bessent (treasury secretary)
Brian McCormack (chief of staff of the National Security Council)
Susie Wiles (White House chief of staff)
Joe Kent (chief of staff to Gabbard)
Jeffrey Goldberg (editor in chief of THE ATLANTIC)

When I'm feeling agitated,
Discontented, or unmotivated,
Then I tell myself to hold fast,
For such adverse feelings won't last.

Sometimes the world has a radiant sheen,
And everything seems "peachy keen."
It's fantastic when things are sublime,
But such good feelings will pass with time.

Freezing temps can really get old,
But when I'm hot, I want to be cold.
Though I hate hot weather a lot,
When I'm cold, I want to be hot.

When I'm feeling down in the dumps,
I say, "Oh, well, life has its bumps."
If I tough it out, in a while
I know my frown will turn to a smile.

Aren't we full of contradictions?
We can clash with our own convictions.
With some practice, things will click,
And we can find out what makes us tick.

Look inside yourself and you'll see
In life there is no guarantee.
Is what you're seeing REAL, or do you
See only what you perceive to be true?

-by Bob B (1-2-19)

Give him a chance, people say.
Give Trump a chance; let go of fears.
The SAME chance Republicans gave
President Obama for the last eight years?

From the beginning Republicans
In Congress superciliously vowed
That President Obama would serve
Only one term. They felt so proud.

Pushing their petty partisan agenda
And blocking proposals with all their might,
They perfected the art of obstruction
And did it with insidious delight.

Calling the president a liar
And his birth certificate a fraud,
They displayed contempt for their leader
With reasoning that was greatly flawed.

It's dereliction of duty when
Republicans, the Party of NO,
Refuse to confirm a Supreme Court justice
With all their lame excuses in tow.

Flouting the very institutions
That normally make a democracy succeed,
Unethical members of Congress have
Only made our democracy bleed.

Their mindless obstruction, along with their
Unprecedented disrespect,
Is partly why we have a populist
Demagogue as president-elect.

NOW they say to give the next
President the respect that is due.
It doesn't work that way; they can't
Have their cake and eat it, too.

- by Bob B (11-17-16)

A poor farmer had grown so old
That he could no longer work on his land.
He sat on the porch and watched his son work,
Assuming his son would understand.

However, the son, working the fields,
Occasionally would look at his dad
And think to himself, "He does nothing!
His uselessness is driving me mad!"

The son's frustration increased daily.
His selfish resentment wouldn't subside.
He gathered some wood, constructed a coffin,
And told his father to climb inside.

Dragging the coffin to the edge of a cliff,
He stopped when he heard a tapping sound
Coming from the lid, which
He removed and laid on the ground.

The father looked up at his son and said,
"Son, I'd like to avoid a tiff,
But it is obvious to me that you
Are going to throw me over the cliff.

"Throw me over the precipice.
That's odd behavior, but I'll excuse it.
But keep this beautiful, wooden coffin;
YOUR children might want to use it."

- by Bob B (3-1-17)

°An old tale retold here in verse

What happened in Georgetown stays in Georgetown.
Judge Kavanaugh, that's what you said.
But maybe that's  not always the case,
For now you see that stories spread.

If you are the goody two shoes
That Republicans say you are,
Prove to us that you have what
It takes to be their shining star.

Gang rapes? Drunken parties?
Serious charges for a youth.
What happened there behind closed doors?
We just want to know the truth.

Survivors are merely asking for further
FBI investigations
To get to the bottom of all of this.
These are serious accusations.

One thing that they have done
Or at least say that they will do
Is take a lie detector test.
Maybe YOU should take one, too.

"This poor man's life is being ruined."
That is what your fans are saying.
They ignore how others' lives
Have been affected. That's dismaying.

Look at the hollow hypocrisy
Of members of Congress who turn their backs
On women who have struggled to
Survive violent ****** attacks.

Some say that the Democrats
Are experts at how to lie and cheat.
But we've seen that Republicans
In Congress are masters of deceit.

Holding back pertinent
Information is not the best
Way to show that a nominee
Makes the grade--passes the test.

Judge Scalia's position was kept
Open for over 400 days!
Now they want to rush to judgment,
Ramming you through with no delays!

A thorough study's important, but
Republicans don't give a ****.
The confirmation process here
Has turned into a real sham.

-by Bob B (9-25-18)

What has happened to America?
How did democracy get so diluted?
How could its people sit by and watch
Repeated attacks go undisputed?

The nation has had its ups and downs
Since it began--no denying.
We strove to work out the kinks in our system
With dreams and efforts that were undying.

Autocratic leaders were once
Looked at with both disdain and suspicion.
Currently, world dictators are
Receiving our leader's recognition.

White supremacists used to spread
Their vile hatred from out on the fringes.
The mainstream door--now open for them--
Has even been taken off its hinges.

Struggles for rights have gone on for years,
And yet they continue. The clock is ticking.
Though many thought he was dead and buried,
Jim Crow is alive and kicking.

At times in the past, we would protect
Our people through almost any means.
Now our children in schools are being
Massacred by AR-15s.

Knowledge and wisdom once were praised,
And facts used to be highly respected.
Critical thinking is dying while
The art of lying is being perfected.

The free press used to be valued--
A sign that our freedom was thriving.
Misinformed voices, calling it fake,
Now accuse it of being conniving.

Through the years we've heard talk
Of formulating built-in protections.
Now--completely out of control--
***** money determines elections.

Immigrants used to be welcome here.
They've made us strong--without a doubt.
Lately, people keep looking for
More excuses to kick them out.

No system's invincible;
Any system will face attacks.
Democracy can be vulnerable--
Especially if it has cracks.

-by Bob B (3-8-18)

Why for months has Hello Poetry
Been so out of whack?
Is the problem really such
A hard nut to crack?

I can’t see a lot of poems
That I would love to see,
And many people cannot read
The ones written by me.

There’s a contact address, but is it
Just there for show?
Since I never get a response,
How am I to know?

The site needs a technician who knows
What he or she is doing.
If it continues to function this way,
Frustrations will keep brewing.

It was a wonderful site, but now
I keep wondering whether
It’s going to be able once again
To get its act together.

-by Bob B (4-11-20)

What is this world coming to?
Sometimes I can't believe my ears.
When it comes to ludicrousness,
We are encountering new frontiers.

Mike Johnson° has told us that
Republicans value the rule of law.
However, for a very strange reason,
Their grasp of it has a major flaw:

The rule of law is important to them
When they can use it on others, you see.
But if the law is directed at them,
They want complete immunity.

Johnson has placed two House members,
Ronny Jackson°° and Scott Perry,°°°
On the Intelligence Committee.
Now try to tell me THAT'S not scary.

Demoted from admiral to captain,
Jackson has proved to be a skunk:
One, for mistreating his staff members,
And two, for treating patients while drunk.

Perry's appointment is more bizarre,
For he had had a strong connection
With plots to ignore election results
And with the Capitol insurrection.

That Johnson has placed these two men
On the committee has to defy
Reason, for now they will be
Overseeing the FBI!

A Black House member, Byron Donalds,°°°°
With his MAGA fiction in tow,
Said that Blacks were much better off
During the Jim Crow era! Whoa!

And one more thing: Trump says since
He's been accused of "alleged" crimes,
Because he's a victim, Blacks love him,
For they have suffered through difficult times.

My goodness! What is going on?
With all this crazy nonsense transpiring,
It appears that in these Republicans,
Synapses in their brains are misfiring.

-by Bob B (6-7-24)

°Current Speaker of the House
°°Republican representative from Texas
°°°Republican representative from Pennsylvania
°°°°Republican representative from Florida

THIS poem is not about Trump.
It's not about his rise and fall.
It’s not about his constant lying.
It’s not about his fantasy wall.

It’s not about understanding
The reasons people still support him.
It’s not about the unscrupulous
Members of Congress who still court him.

It’s not about his insidious
Attempts to challenge a fair election.
It’s not about the insecure
Manner in which he handles rejection.

It’s not about his passion for
Conspiracy theories and made-up "facts."
It’s not about the far-right extremists
And crazy fringe groups he attracts.

It’s not about how he took
A great nation and in four years
Tore it apart and left it in shambles
And then whined, expecting cheers.

It’s not about his overwhelming
Hypocrisy and how he became--
Because of his moral bankruptcy--
Someone who sullied his very own name.

It’s not about his nepotism,
Corruption, cover-ups, or affairs,
Or how he cares LESS about us
And MORE about his stock market shares.

It’s not about how he mishandled
A deadly pandemic--par for the course--
By listening to quacks and ignoring the experts,
And as people died, he showed no remorse.

What the poem's about is when
Conspiracy theories lose their appeal,
Then and only at that time
Will the nation be able to heal.

-by Bob B (11-18-20)

In Trump's mad world, we are seeing
That competence is not required,
For loyalty will get you the job,
And disloyalty will get you fired.

Just imagine the people least
Fit for a job: THEY'RE Trump's picks.
So now we have a government
Run by a bunch of lunatics!

His Cabinet members are out to destroy
The very agencies that they run.
WE are not their major concern;
It's singing the praises of number one.

When White House daily briefings must
Be dumbed down for Trump, we know
That we are very vulnerable.
Our situation is touch and go.

When asked difficult questions, Trump
Rambles on and his face goes blank.
It's pretty obvious that he
Is running on an empty tank.

When the defense secretary
And Trump are asked about Ukraine,
They shake their heads and cannot answer
The journalists' questions. That's insane!

In fact, when Trump is asked about
Specific accountability,
He responds in the following manner:
"I don't know; YOU tell me."

Is Trump demented, insane, or stupid?
Or is it that he just doesn't care?
Before his election, there was a warning
Loud and clear: Voter beware!

Carrying out vendettas, golfing,
And making money are Trump's concerns.
He sells his wares and makes his deals
While rivers flood and the nation burns.

When difficult problems arise, he just
Passes the buck and shifts the blame.
His major focus seems to be
The Trump brand. What a shame!

-by Bob B (7-12-25)

To wear, or not to wear a mask. The question:
Whether we wear a mask and stay protected
From possible contraction of a virus,
Or NOT and have to face the unexpected.

And if we thus throw caution to the wind,
Endangering the lives of those around us,
We will find the consequences costly.
The sad and dire statistics will astound us.

When we question what the experts say
And let ourselves be fooled by sly deceivers,
Then we end up on a wild pursuit
With other dazed conspiracy believers.

Confounded when some leaders give reports
That artfully confuse the truth with lies,
We MUST rely on facts that keep us from
Performing actions that would be unwise.

Experts say if we do not act now,
Later we'll experience regret.
It's not about just saving our own skin,
But other people's lives, lest we forget.

I don't think I'm wrong to say that life
Is something that most people value most.
Therefore, I reiterate that I
Am not so keen on giving up the ghost.

When we see behavior that is careless,
We should know to sound a loud alarm.
Some folks out there do not stop to think
How their recklessness is causing harm.

To wear a mask, of course, is not a pleasure;
For now it's just a necessary task.
But getting folks to wear one: that's the rub.
But tell me: is it way too much to ask?

Spread the word: oh, please put on your mask!

-by Bob B (5-26-20)

This poetry site is so quirky.
Its value has gotten quite murky.
Whatever its goal,
It's out of control.
I'd say it's becoming a turkey.

It needs a skillful technician.
And frankly I have a suspicion
That no one's in charge,
Which by and large,
Explains its current condition.

-by Bob B (6-3-22)

It seems to me the HelloPoetry
Website is having a glitch.
I used to be able to upload all
Of my poems without a hitch.

Now I get an error message
Every time I try
To upload a poem to the site.
Why? Why? Why?

After a week I learned that each
Poem was saved as a draft.
And all along I'd thought the site
Was giving me the shaft.

I clicked on my "Poems," clicked on "Draft,"
And found the poem to "Edit."
(I know I'm not a rocket scientist,
But give me a little credit.)

I clicked on the audience, then hit "Save,"
And voilà! my poem was posted.
(Was I supposed to share this info?
Maybe I'll now be roasted.)

Anyway, I liked it better
Before this recent flaw.
Having to go through all these steps
Really sticks in my craw.

-by Bob B (12-13-17)

Sometimes it is undeniably
Hard to comprehend
How people can support a loser
To the bitter end.

For example: a twice-impeached
One-term president who
After four chaotic years
Has nothing better to do

Than demonstrate his nastiness
And fervently embrace
Anyone who bows to him
As he lies to his base.

His toadies let themselves be guided
Like marionettes on a string,
And many flock to Mar-a-Lago
To kiss their cult leader's ring.

The man--crazed, deluded--seems
Totally unaware
That the more he talks, the more
We know he's not all there.

He still thinks he's president--
That he'll be reinstated--
And that President Biden's term
Will be terminated!

He thinks that the clown-show audits
Will have the proof he'll use
To try to convince the country that
He didn't really lose.

One would think Republicans would be
Tying themselves in knots
Over what he's doing. But no,
They let him call the shots.

One could laugh if it weren't so
Sick, disgusting and sad.
But what's going on is serious.
Folks, we've been had!

It seems we're watching democracy go
Into a tailspin.
It won't be destroyed from without
But instead from within.

-by Bob B (7-16-21)

What should Americans do when they see
The president tearing the country apart?
What should we all rely on to guide us?
What are solutions? Where do we start?

We can't rely on our institutions,
For Trump's destroying them one by one.
That makes it harder to stop the man
And his partners in grime. Pardon the pun.

We can't rely on the DOJ,
For Trump's henchman is running the show.
Barr is there to do Trump's bidding,
To cover-up truths as the scandals grow.

Can congressional oversight
Stop the megalomaniac?
No, not when the Senate is full
Of Trumplican toadies who have his back.

It's up to the people to take to the streets,
To march, make phone calls, show our persistence
In striving to stop this brutal assault
On democracy through passive resistance.

Voting, too, will be crucial
If there are freedoms you want to save.
Through apathy and blind allegiance,
What you'll do is dig your own grave.

-by Bob B (2-15-20)

COVID-19 is here! We have to
Do what we can to slow its spread.
Failure to act appropriately
Will mean scarier times ahead.

Experts say the mortality rate
Of the flu is zero point one percent;
COVID-19 is ten times worse.
Someone, PLEASE tell the president!

It's also NOT something that we
Control through travel bans,° they say.
Testing is crucial. South Korea
Tests 10,000 people a day!

Have bureaucratic snags prevented
Testing here? If testing is key
To help suppress the spread of the virus,
And others can do it, why can't we?

Identify and isolate.
We need more tests and on the double.
If health systems are overburdened,
We will be in a heap of trouble.

Yes, we have to "flatten the curve"
And practice precautions to the letter.
Still, the situation is going to
Get much worse before it gets better.

One thing we've learned: Trump and his cronies
Had stifled many efforts to contain
The spread of the virus by carrying on
Their reckless disinformation campaign.

Clear, honest messaging
And not a suspicious, distrustful inaction
Is what we need; otherwise,
You're going to dislike the coming attraction.

-by Bob B (3-12-20)

°At first experts disagreed as to the effectiveness of travel bans--especially arbitrary travel bans.

History will tell the story
Of how the U.S. abandoned Ukraine--
Of how an American dictator rose
To power and left it out in the rain--

Of how he sidled up to the leader
Of Russia, and how his admin team
Carried out their Führer's plans
By fully supporting the tyrant's regime--

Of how the American dictator lied
And called Ukraine the true aggressor,
In total opposition to his
Wise and compassionate predecessor--

Of how the European nations
Continued to give Ukraine support
While the American bully's team
Continued to look for truths to distort--

Of how the American tyrant discounted
The pain that the Russians had inflicted
Upon the Ukrainian people, who
Held out longer than folks had predicted--

Of how the bully would help Ukraine
ONLY if there was quid pro quo,
For as a transactional tyrant, he didn't
Like it at all if someone said no--

Of how the dictator's sycophants
Maintained that democracy had failed,
Scoffed at the rule of law, and cheered
When liberties were being curtailed.

What will history say of the people
Who flatly refused the tyrant's demands--
Resisters on American shores
And caring leaders from other lands?

Maybe if all goes well, the cruel
And vicious tyrant will choke on his glory,
And leaders of democracy
Can change the outcome of history's story.

-by Bob B (2-25-25)

"What will you be for Halloween,
Dear little son? Let's see…
What could you be for Halloween?
What would you like to be?"

"I want to be something very scary--
Something that makes the people wary…
A villain who has a spooky face
And makes the world an uglier place…
Who represents an antihero…
Whose record shows he's batting zero…
Who causes suffering everywhere
And acts as though he doesn't care.
That's what I'll be for Halloween;
That's what I want to be."

"What will you be for Halloween,
Dear little son? Let's see…
What could you be for Halloween?
What would you like to be?"

"I'll be the meanest person of all,
Who has no sense of protocol…
Maybe the biggest liar on earth,
Whose only care is what he's worth…
Who many call a political hack
Or a selfish egomaniac…
Who drags the people's names through the mud…
A vampire who is out for blood.
That's what I'll be for Halloween;
That's what I want to be."

"What will you be for Halloween,
Dear little son? Let's see…
What could you be for Halloween?
What would you like to be?"

"I want to make people ill at ease
By kissing up to enemies…
I want to make my critics cower,
The ones who say I abuse my power…
I want my poisonous words to flow
And boost the art of quid pro quo.
I'll pretend I'm heaven sent,
And so I'll be the PRESIDENT!
That's what I'll be for Halloween;
That's what I want to be."

-by Bob B (10-31-19)

Let's say a foreign government
Butcher's a U.S. resident
In Istanbul, Turkey, while
You're the U.S. president.

What's more important to you
Is making more money down the line
By maintaining business ties
That NOT even ****** can undermine.

If greed is your primary motive,
You'll justify your point of view
By asking yourself the following question:
What would the current president do?

Let's say certain autocrats
Make dissenters disappear.
You're entranced by how the despots
Maintain their power that you hold dear.

If power is your primary motive,
You'll justify your point of view
By asking yourself the following question:
What would the current president do?

If people desperate for asylum
Come to your border seeking relief,
And you want to show the heartlessness
Of a xenophobic commander in chief,

Then show them that your heartlessness
Can justify your point of view
By asking yourself the following question:
What would the current president do?

If you want to stop an investigation
That possibly looks bad for you,
You can obstruct justice by asking,
What would the current president do?

If you think your unscrupulousness
Allows you to break every taboo,
You've learned a lot from asking yourself,
What would the current president do?

-by Bob B (11-21-18)

It's amazing how many people are not
Appalled by Trump's alternate reality,
Which is fed by political gibberish
That gives it a vitriolic vitality.

The man sees the world not as it is,
But only in how he can mold and shape it.
His main relationship with the earth
Is finding ways to plunder and **** it.

Scorning science and fact-based query,
He is more content to remain
In a protective shell of ignorance.
That's impossible to explain.

Alternative facts permeate
His psyche, leaving him out of touch
With truths that help the world progress.
To him such truths are only a crutch.

He's conned the people into believing
That corporations would never deceive them.
When he and his team make up stories,
Astonishingly, people believe them!

Political correctness to him
Is an obstacle in his path,
And anyone who points that out
Becomes the target of his wrath.

Paranoia underlies
His selfish motives and decisions.
Bizarre conspiracy theories color
Much of the content of his visions.

Compassion to him is strictly conditional
And given with expectations in mind.
Strict adherence to extreme notions
Has made him forget how to be kind.

His idea of greatness is really
A chimera that reiterates
A motto of separation: "We
The privileged of the United States."

- by Bob B (6-7-17)

Nineteen children were killed yesterday
In a small Texan town while at school.
Two adults were killed as well.
This is what happens in a land where guns rule.

When does enough become enough?
When do we stop being pushed around
By those who stifle our commonsense
Attempts to keep our kids above ground?

When do we say "Enough!" to those
Politicians who thrive on donations
By members of the huge gun lobby
Who fight to resist gun regulations?

Why don't they see that the Second Amendment
Is NOT a weapons free-for-all?
And yet when it comes to life-saving laws,
Callous, palm-greased lawmakers stall.

These deaths are the "price of freedom" some say.
Freedom? No, give me a break!
These deaths are the price of ignorance.
Our children's future is at stake.

Today, hundreds of loved ones are grieving.
Their lives will never again be the same.
But will these killings rouse people to action?
I doubt they will, and that's a shame.

-by Bob B (5-25-22)

Pseudo-scientific writings
Of two men named Strauss and Howe°
Talk about an existential
War that we are in right now.

It's called a war of the Fourth Turning,
And here's one thing the writings mention:
By aggravating societal pressures,
Leaders control the nation's attention.

Leadership will take measures
To assert public authority. (How nice!)
Then they will apply pressure
To demand public sacrifice.

An unexpected leader called
The Grey Champion will emerge--
A messianic strongman who'll
Lead the nation as allies merge.

It ought not to be so difficult
To see through this fiction, ought it?
However, the president's right hand man,
(Gulp!) Steve Bannon, bought it.

This is the "birth of a new political
Order," Bannon has said. What' more,
We're "in the top of the first inning."
He puts it this way: "We're at war!"

Expansionist China and radical Islam
Will bring about our defeat
Because the Judeo-Christian West,
Bannon adds, is in retreat.

He talks of dark days ahead.
Part of the apocalyptic plan
Has to do with being "reborn"
Or having to face the end of man.

Bannon has the president's ear!
It's really scary when buffoons
Are given top positions and power.
THIS GUY is ****** TUNES!

- by Bob B (2-11-17)

°William Strauss and Neil Howe

When ignorance goes running rampant
And fools run amok,
And the measure of success is strictly
The almighty buck;

When logic and reason become suspect
And fakesters are thought wise,
And people relish living in
A fool's paradise;

When false news is the word of the day
And many people choose
To get their news from stations where ratings
Are more important than news;

When lies masquerade as truth
And facts are seen as perverse,
And the lack of consideration for others
Goes from bad to worse;

When science is known as the enemy
And metaphor as science,
And blind acceptance and misunderstanding
Form a tight alliance;

When bold and brazen ideologues
Make it their primary mission
To push their will upon the people
And crush the opposition;

And when world leaders have the potential
To leave the world in rubble,
And some of the leaders are buffoons,
WE'RE IN A HEAP OF TROUBLE!

- by Bob B (12-17-16)

When I kick the bucket and if you see my family,
Please don’t be tempted to say,
“It was quick; he didn’t suffer long”
Or “Be happy that he’s no longer in pain”
Or “He’s now in Heaven or in the Pure Land”
Or “He lived a good life.”
Just hug them and say,
“I’m sorry” (if you are)
Or “I acknowledge your grief” (if you do)
Or “We will all miss him” (if you will)
Or “I’m surprised the SOB lived as long as he did” (if that’s how you feel).
No, maybe you won’t want to say that--not if you are talking to my family at least.
Then smile
And reflect….
Reflect on the fleeting nature of life,
On what it takes to live life fully,
On the inexplicable mysteries of life,
On the persevering and miraculous aspects of Nature,
And on the amazing interconnectedness of all things.
Grieve if you must,
But not for too long a period.
Don’t let it cause you to miss a game
Or a party
Or a dinner
Or a show.
Just continue being the special person you are,
And live!
Live!
Live!
Live!

-by Bob B (6-26-22)

(This poem could be sung to the melody of Gilbert and Sullivan's "When I Was a Lad," from the H.M.S. PINAFORE. There are grammatical irregularities for obvious reasons.😉)

TRUMP:
When I was a kid, I learned from Dad
To stay on top and to never get had.
I learned the pleasures that our wealth could bring,
And he often called me "killer" and he called me "king."

SYCOPHANTS:
And he often called him "killer" and he called him "king."

TRUMP:
Since Daddy called me "king" it really helped somehow
For me to be the ruler of the country now.

SYCOPHANTS:
Since Daddy called him "king" it really helped somehow
For him to be the ruler of the country now.

TRUMP:
I learned quite fast. My goal? Get rich quick!
Some fraud can be a plus, for it does the trick.
I got my way, or I would come unglued.
And if people gave me problems, piece of cake: I sued.

SYCOPHANTS:
And if people gave him problems, piece of cake: he sued.

TRUMP:
I grew so rich and famous that the crowds said "Wow!"
So therefore I'm the ruler of the country now.

SYCOPHANTS:
He grew so rich and famous that the crowds said "Wow!"
So therefore he's the ruler of the country now.

TRUMP:
I learned very quickly all the tricks of the trade:
A boss saves money if folks aren't paid.
I learned so fast how to crush dissent,
And I SOON became an unrelenting president.

SYCOPHANTS:
And he SOON became an unrelenting president.

TRUMP:
Since ALL my fans adore me, I will take a bow.
They like that I'm the ruler of the country now.

SYCOPHANTS:
Since ALL his fans adore him, he will take a bow.
They're happy he's the ruler of the country now.

TRUMP:
A manifesto that is helping me survive
Is known as Project 2025.
Oh, the project helps expand my role:
I'm a president who wants complete control.

SYCOPHANTS:
He's a president who wants complete control.

TRUMP:
And so criticism I won't allow
Because I am the ruler of the country now.

SYCOPHANTS:
And so criticism he won't allow
Because he is the ruler of the country now.

TRUMP:
For admin teams, it makes no sense
To put TOO much emphasis on competence.
They MUST be loyal and kowtow to you,
And support you when you're asking "What would Putin do?"

SYCOPHANTS:
And support you when you're asking "What would Putin do?"

TRUMP:
My DEAR friend Putin is the cat's meow.
He helped me be the ruler of the country now.

SYCOPHANTS:
His DEAR friend Putin is the cat's meow.
He helped him be the ruler of the country now.

TRUMP:
So all out there, please listen to my plea:
If you WANT to get to the top just like me,
You should toss out your conscience, be as cold as ice,
And never say you're wrong or be contrite or nice.

SYCOPHANTS:
And never say you're wrong or be contrite or nice.

TRUMP:
If YOU'RE more like me--yes, holier than thou--
Then you could all be rulers just like I am now.

SYCOPHANTS:
If WE'RE more like him--yes, holier than thou--
Then we could all be rulers just like he is now.

-by Bob B (8-30-25)

When I write a poem,
I find that all at once
A world of wonderment envelops me.
Life takes on new forms,
New thoughts come alive,
And tints of magic color all I see.

When I write a poem,
Longing grips my heart--
A longing to express what's deep inside.
The more I wander through
The wondrous realm of words,
Life becomes much more intensified.

Sometimes bright and hopeful,
Sometimes dark or gray,
Words say what my heart
Wants me to convey.

When I write a poem,
A passion, hope, or dream
Compels me to move forward word by word.
Once my poem's finished,
What else is there to say?
At least I've tried to let my voice be heard.

-by Bob B (11-29-18)

Fighting for our freedoms is
A goal within our reach.
That's a major focus when
Michelle gives a speech.°

If she sings your praises, then
That is something each
And everyone should cherish when
Michelle gives a speech.

If YOU embrace important thoughts
That speakers want to teach,
Then you'll appreciate it when
Michelle gives a speech.

Rightly she unmasks the man
The House did twice impeach.
The words are blunt and lucid when
Michelle gives a speech.

She SIMPLY calls it what it is
And doesn't have to preach.
Each word hits the target when
Michelle gives a speech.

Trump's thick barrier of lies
Is what her words can breach.
Everyone should listen when
Michelle gives a speech.

Some folks always rant and rave
And shout and shriek and screech.
However, you won't hear that when
Michelle gives a speech.

If you've never heard her speak,
Then you I do beseech
To take the time to hear her when
Michelle gives a speech.

-by Bob B (10-27-24)

°Referring to Michelle Obama's speech at the Harris rally in Kalamazoo, MI, on 10-26-24

The president stood before the mic
And told the public not to fear--
That things were not so bad--but didn't
Say that he was insincere.

He let them think that oh, we have
COVID-19 under control,
As he tried to convince the public
To follow him down the rabbit hole.

He found a doctor who was not
An epidemiologist
To spread his propaganda, and he
Allowed the experts to be dismissed.

He thoughtlessly invited his fans
To rallies where masks were not required
And thought his obstinacy and his
Insouciance made him highly admired.

He scorned those who wore their masks
And knew the virus was a threat,
And when journalists pressed him about
The issue, he'd become upset.

Thinking he knew so much more
Than all of the experts, he made sure
That CDC recommendations
Would soften and remain obscure.

All of a sudden, what do we learn?
The president is hospitalized
For having contracted COVID-19.
Is anybody at all surprised?

The lesson here: denial does not
Make problems disappear on their own.
Always consider consequences,
For we will reap what we have sown.

Negligence as a strategy
Slowly but surely gives danger a boost
When our actions catch up with us--
When the chickens come home to roost.

-by Bob B (10-4-20)

Can you imagine being on a ship
And being tossed to and fro,
With blustery winds of uncertainty threatening
To toss you into the depths below?

The waves of contempt bash against
What was once a sturdy bow.
The only thought that runs through your mind
Is "I have to survive, but HOW?"

Pelted by the freezing rain,
You and your fellow travelers on board
Clutch one another and ask yourselves,
"Why were earlier warnings ignored?"

The captain's chilling words still haunt you:
"I give commands; you will heed them!"
During the journey he let loose the lifeboats,
Screaming madly, "We won't need them!"

Running in circles, the captain's crew--
Inexperienced and unprepared--
Go through the motions of helping the travelers
And try to hide the fact that they're scared.

Icebergs rise and fall in the distance;
Alarm signals are flashing red.
"Never mind!" the captain shouts.
"**** the icebergs! Full speed ahead!"

Ignoring advice, the captain defies
The waves threatening to overwhelm
The ship. Yes, pity the travelers
When there's a madman at the helm.

- by Bob B (2-4-17)

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" from THE WIZARD OF OZ, by Harold Arlen and E.Y. Harburg.)


Someday, when there's no COVID, I'll be glad
That advice from the experts proved to be ironclad.

Someday, when there's no COVID, I will smile,
Knowing that our precautions turned out to be worthwhile.

I'll wonder why some people balked
And leaders 'round the country blocked
Restrictions.
They listened to the senseless bull
That spread so fast and was so full
Of contradictions.

Someday, when there's no COVID, we'll be free.
We just all have to practice responsibility.

(Interlude)

We know that masks protect us and
It doesn't help when masks are banned.
That's silly.
And vaccinations help as well.
We know that with them we can quell
The virus. Really!

Someday, when there's no COVID, we'll be free.
We just all have to practice responsibility.

If only everyone could be
Responsible then we...
Would...be...set...free.

-by Bob B (9-10-21)

(Written to the tune "On Top of Old Smokey")

When the weather gets Stormy,
What does Trump do?
He talks to his lawyer
And threatens to sue.

So he thinks that suing
Will give him relief?
That doesn't much flatter
A commander in chief.

To be a commander
Requires great skill.
Some people have it;
Some never will.

Will he keep hoping
This storm will not last--
That it won't show up in
Tomorrow's forecast?

Forecasts predict, though,
More storms on the way.
Maybe distractions
Will fill up his day:

He’ll tweet daily nonsense,
Anger more folks,
Fire more staffers,
Or start a new hoax.

The hoaxes he starts will
Stir up his base.
How does he do that
And keep a straight face?

He’ll have to face now
Another big storm.
For him Stormy weather
Is becoming the norm.

-by Bob B (3-19-18)

When will the government shutdown end?
Not till Trump comes to his senses.
Meanwhile, Trump's obsessive behavior
Is having disastrous consequences:

Many government workers are on
Furlough; thus, they're not being paid.
Businesses are also affected;
Services are being delayed.

If Mitch McConnell had a backbone--
If the obstructionist had the will--
Immediately, Congress could send
The president a veto-proof bill.

The Dems truly want border security,
But a wall is NOT a part of the deal,
Whether a structure is made of cement,
Or whether it comes from iron or steel.

Many feel that Trump and his team
Have skillfully manufactured a crisis.
They insist that a wall on our SOUTHERN
Border is going to protect us from ISIS.

Trump says that if he wants
To build his wall, he can declare
A national emergency.
That means he'll get the money from where?

From pillaging disaster funds.
Bound and determined to build his wall,
He will go to any lengths
To rob Peter to pay Paul.

If you think he was being sincere
In his Oval Office speech, he wasn't.
Most of us care that people are hurting.
The trouble is that Trump doesn't.

-by Bob B (1-11-19)

Where are mental institutions
To help those in dire need?
Within our current societal framework,
We can see where their absence can lead.

Closing the doors of facilities
Has posed a problem--one that defeats
The very attempt to keep psychotic,
Insane people from wandering the streets.

I'm not talking "insane asylums"
Or "snake pits" by any means,
Such as the ones we've seen in the movies
Filled with unforgettable scenes.

No, I'm talking facilities where
Patients receive necessary
Psychiatric help, which can
Hopefully be temporary.

At least those who are dangerous to
Themselves or others would have a place
To access humanitarian aid.
It's a problem we have to face.

Money? Is it all about money
That taxpayers refuse to spend
To build the institutions that
Would help and protect us in the end?

Shame on us as a country if
We thoughtlessly choose to overlook
What could be a proper solution
Merely because of our pocketbook.

-by Bob B (5-12-22)

Where, pray tell, are we now?
How far have we progressed?
Have we covered our ears so we can't
Hear the cries of the dispossessed?

Have pages been ripped out of history books
So that the people cannot see
The struggles that many undertook
To help to set all people free?

A nation "indivisible,
With liberty and justice for all"
Can benefit at times from a self-
Evaluative overhaul,

Or maybe from a look in the mirror
To see whether the image displayed
Truly represents the picture
Of freedom meant to be conveyed.

Through irreconcilable differences,
Have we now become divorced
From hopeful ideals that early on
The shapers of our nation endorsed?

Are we sincerely looking within
Our hearts to make a "more perfect" nation,
Or are we more consumed with drawing
Attention to the standing ovation?

Are we shutting the door to the soul
Of America and walling out
The power and strength that forms the basis
Of what this country is all about?

Let us not be blindsided
By rogue forces that hope to succeed
In weakening what makes us strong,
Only to relish watching us bleed.

-by Bob B (6-16-18)

"Where be these enemies?"
Asks the Prince. Can he defuse
The bitter, violent feud between
The Capulets and the Montagues?

How sad it is when we observe
How human hatred seems here to stay,
And years and years of antidotes
Of love aren't able to wash it away!

And when we see the tactics used
By some to make America great,
We see the consequences of
The "scourge that's laid upon [our] hate."

The cruel dehumanization of people
Does not bring the people together.
It merely unites a certain group,
Or angry mob--birds of a feather.

The misrepresentation of facts--
Of pulling the wool over people's eyes--
Only perpetuates all the hatred
With a cacophony of lies.

By seeking enemies constantly
In other people, we tend to forget
That "all are punished" because there is
A deeper, darker, more dangerous threat.

"Where be these enemies?"
That's the question we have to pose.
And so it's hatred within our hearts?
There, you've hit it on the nose!

-by Bob B (10-11-24)

Where does your chicken come from—
The chicken you find on your plate?
It’s probably in a slaughterhouse
Where the bird meets its fate.
From clamps holding its feet,
It hangs upside down with the others—
Not the kind of ending
They'd choose if they had their druthers.
They’re dragged through a cold salty bath
To stun them and keep them from thrashing;
A cutter then slashes their throats
With its deadly, silvery blades flashing.
If that were the end, they'd be lucky;
But most of their hearts are still pumping.
For ninety more seconds they’ll hang.
Can you hear the hearts thumping?
Dead or alive they are dumped
Into pools of scalding water
Where the ones that are still alive
Will flop and scream from this slaughter.
After the torture is over
All of the bodies are slated
To be gutted, plucked, and whatever....
They’ve basically been desecrated.
 
Other methods used—
And I admit I don’t know ‘em—
To butcher our feathered friends are
Beyond the scope of this poem.
But regarding this slaughterhouse massacre,
There’s one more thing I maintain:
The conditions before this bloodbath,
Are also not very humane.
The chickens are squeezed into cages
In conditions sometimes unfit.
How would you like to stand
Up to your ankles in s--t?
What about free-range poultry?
Be careful: you might see
That despite the nice-sounding concept,
It’s not what it’s cracked up to be.
And then there’s the farmyard chicken
That the farmer’s so gleefully fed,
Which is unaware
That its master will chop off its head.
I’m not trying to scare you
Or be indiscreet,
But we must all be cognizant
Of where we are getting our meat.
 
I could inform you about
What happens to a cow,
Or lamb or pig; however,
I'll spare you that for now.

- by Bob B

Donald Trump and Elon Musk--
And this, of course, is no surprise--
Continue to spread misinformation
And hope that we believe their lies.

Now it's about the devastating
Fires raging through L.A.
We are hearing attacks and blame
From Trump and his new protégé.

Musk is blaming the Dems and "wokeness"
And thus is throwing fuel on the flames;
Trump is stupidly misleading fans
By making false, inaccurate claims.

The two men rely on a place
Where lies and misinformation abound:
The Internet--now a perfect
Conspiracy theory breeding ground.

Fact-checking is crucial now
More than ever as Trump distracts
The public with his verbal garbage
And Musk with his alternative "facts."

-by Bob B (1-10-25)

Utnapashtim, ancient in age,
Was paid a visit--which seemed quite odd--
From Ea, who thousands of years ago
Was a Sumerian water god.

The gods were angry with people on Earth.
As it turned out, the gripe that they had
Was simply because the humans were noisy
And NOT because they were evil or bad.

A god called Enlil suggested a flood.
It would be done, at his behest.
Once all that was over, he said,
The gods could get a good night's rest.

Ea told Utnapashtim to build
A giant boat. One of its features:
To be gigantic enough to hold
"The seed of ALL living creatures."

Utnapashtim finished his boat
Just before the rains began.
For six whole days and six whole nights
It rained nonstop, according to plan.

The only ones who survived the flood
Were those on Utnapashtim's boat.
Needless to say, they were all
Lucky that it had kept afloat.

The seventh day brought clear, calm weather.
A dove was released, but it soon returned.
Utnapashtim released a swallow.
When IT came back, too, he grew concerned.

"Hmmm," he thought. "Let's try a raven."
He sent forth a raven, and what do you know?
The raven did NOT return, for it
Had come across land. Way to go!

The huge boat came to rest upon
A mountaintop as waters receded.
All were relieved that the water god's
Urgent warnings had been heeded.

A god called Ishtar made the first
Rainbow appear across the sky
To serve as a promise of no more floods
And be a glory to meet the eye.

If you think that the story sounds
Familiar, well, you aren't alone.
The Israelites borrowed the story,
Changed it a bit, and made it their own.

-by Bob B (2-23-25)

The scent of pine wafting through the woods;
The gentle rush of serpentining streams;
Plaintive begging calls from forest birds;
A silvery pool reflecting the moon's bright beams…
Nature's sights and scents and sounds combined
Or on their own can give great peace of mind.

A flower squeezing through a neighbor's wall;
An unattended garden, overgrown;
The sounds of children playing in a park;
A stranger musing on a porch alone…
Wherever we are, we can nonetheless
Be moved in ways that words cannot express.

Where were you on 9/11
When the frightening news was reported--
When all over the country airline
Flights had to be aborted?

Was your TV show interrupted
With images on your TV screen--
Images that for many were
The scariest that they'd ever seen?

"At my office." "Driving to work."
"In my class." "At the store."
"Watching the kids." "At the gym."
"Just about to walk out the door."

When we got to a TV set,
We gazed at the screen in disbelief.
Minute by minute each news report
Compounded both our terror and grief.

It was hard to comprehend
The sudden loss of so many lives--
Children, friends and relatives,
Brothers, sisters, husbands, wives.

On that day, life for all of us changed.
Sadly, now there's no going back
To how we lived before that time.
When will there be another attack?

Terrorist threats had long existed.
That's a fact that we can't dispute.
However, we also have to fear
Domestic terrorists to boot.

Also, on a single day
The COVID virus has been the cause
Of more deaths than on 9/11.
That number ought to give us pause.

Since 9/11, twenty years
Have passed, yet threats to our lives don't cease.
Question: Can we preserve our freedoms
And also achieve lasting peace?

-by Bob B (9-11-21)

At a campaign rally,
Trying to be Mr. Hot,
Trump said HE'LL protect women
Whether they like it or not.

Protect women? Hmmm.
Eight years ago we heard
Trump disparaging women.
Every salacious word!

In dealing with women, he said,
Your stardom's easy to flaunt.
Grab their private parts
And do whatever you want.

Has he protected women
Who died from lack of care
Due to abortion bans
Cropping up everywhere?

How about when he was
A predator on the loose
And faces allegations
Of ****** abuse?

I can't imagine women
Wanting Trump's "protection"
Or EVEN casting a vote
For him in any election.

-by Bob B  (11-3-24)

Credible scientists
Agree, and it is quite concerning.
We are seeing destructive effects
Of global warming: Earth is burning.

Brazilian agri-business has been
Carelessly throwing fuel on the fire,
Destroying the "lungs" of our planet and making
The situation even more dire.

The Amazon's on fire right now.
Fires are taking a heavy toll
In places all around the world.
The conflagration is out of control.

As heat-trapping gasses are
Released into the atmosphere,
Glaciers melt and oceans grow warmer,
Making hurricanes more severe.

Between climate change deniers
And a warming earth, we're in the middle,
And as Earth burns our president
Watches while he plays his fiddle.

Now he wants to roll back restrictions,
Erasing rules on methane emissions.
Methane as a heat-trapping gas
Will only worsen climate conditions.

With all his environmental rollbacks,
There is NO silver lining.
He wants to open Alaskan national
Forests to logging, drilling, and mining.

If there is a method to damage our
Environment, he will employ it.
Rather than fight to protect our earth,
The president would rather destroy it!

With all the damage Trump is doing,
If anyone says on his behalf
That he's an environmentalist,
All we can say is, "That's a laugh!"

-by Bob B (8-30-19)

Whistleblowers, blow your whistles;
Expose deceitful corruption and fraud.
Reveal the ghastly, vile and unethical
Doings that hide behind each façade.

Muckrakers, rake through the muck;
Bring wrongdoing and cover-ups to light.
Denounce guile and chicanery.
Raise our awareness; do what is right.

Investigative journalists,
Unveil lies and hypocrisy.
Disclose injustice wherever it is.
Protect our democracy.

People of conscience, raise your voices.
Loudly drown out the messages of hate.
Don't be bullied; don't be afraid
To express what you won't tolerate.

When your hard-earned freedoms are threatened,
Don't let your resolve give way.
"The press is the enemy of the people"
Is something only a tyrant would say.

- by Bob B (2-18-17)

Whistleblowers, do not falter!
Blow those whistles! Sound the alarm!
Although your silence might be safer,
Ultimately, it does more harm.

Whistleblowers, keep exposing
Malfeasance where it occurs.
Even though you have to face
All the wrongdoers' smears and slurs.

Whistleblowers, point out corruption,
Abuse of power, fraud, deceit,
And widespread hypocrisy.
Apply some pressure; turn up the heat.

Whistleblowers, do not fear
Corrupt leaders who call you spies
Merely because you reveal
Their deceptive behavior and lies.

Whistleblowers, be for us
Courageous ones who do what's right.
Let the truth saturate
The findings that you bring to light.

Whistleblowers, do not falter!
Blow those whistles! Sound the alarm!
Although your silence might be safer,
Ultimately, it does more harm.

-by Bob B (9-28-19)

If Trump wants to read Fire and Fury
I would suggest that he hurry.
The next exposé
Will be more risqué
And give him more reason to worry.

Was Donald Trump feeling forlorn,
And afterwards did he feel torn,
From having a fling
And feeling like king
With one of the hot queens of ****?

If Bannon would do what he oughtta,
He'd check out his list of errata,
For now he has learned
How it feels to get burned
And be Trump's persona non grata.

From watching the news on the tele
We're seeing much more of John Kelly.
Our first thoughts of him
Were not quite so grim,
But he's become Machiavelli.

Trump was really obsessed
With proving his mind was the best.
His cognitive exam
Was probably a sham,
And most people are not impressed.

A leader went out on a limb
And joined a new fitness gym.
"Forget it!" he said.
"I'd rather be dead.
To hell with me being slim."

-by Bob B (1-21-18)

I have a hard time understanding
This whole thing about being white
And what makes being white so special.
I CAN'T comprehend it, try as I might.

"Special" here means using “whiteness”
To hold others down with unfair laws
Or other discriminatory treatment--
Injustice that should give all people pause.

I am of northern European
Background. That is just who I am.
But if my forebears had come from Mars,
Frankly, I wouldn't give a ****.

I must accept myself--that’s true--
To be who I am, but I'll come clean:
I'd be content to be any color--
Black, white, or in between.

Privileges that come with being
White for many are in effect
Exactly what those very same people
Fear losing and choose to protect.

What a shame that is! To me
It absolutely makes no sense
To keep your sense of privilege
And do so at someone else's expense.

If only we could find a way
To make such treatment disappear!
Life could be so much more
Harmonious here on this earthly sphere.

Be who you are, but learn to appreciate
Others for who they happen to be.
Walk in their shoes, live in their skin,
Hear what they hear, see what they see.

White, brown, black…whatever.
Let's unite as people--as one.
NOT other people, but false pride
And prejudice are what we should shun.

-by Bob B (2-10-21)