Grade-schooler Tito loved going to school
To learn division and multiplication.
He tried to ignore the violence around him
But lived each day with trepidation.
He cut through an El Salvadorian town
To get to his school—a daily trek.
He constantly encountered violent street gangs—
Each frightful day a reality check.
One day Tito failed to come home.
The next morning grimly revealed
The poor school child’s dismembered body
Lying in an abandoned field.
 
Lucas and Marco feared for their lives,
In their small town in El Salvador,
Where violence governed their daily existence
As ruthless street gangs carried out their war.
When the boys’ mother was gunned down before them,
Fearing they’d be next, the brothers thenceforth
Left their home and their few belongings
And started on a long journey north.
Traveling hundreds of miles with no money
To leave a place of chaos and disorder
Would be a daunting task, along with
The added uncertainty at our country’s border.
 
The gangs in Honduras recruit young children.
In Guatemala they do so as well.
Some kids as young as eight or nine
Serve as drug runners from what we hear tell.
Two of the Central American gangs
That helped to create this horrible mess
Were not homegrown entities at all
But got their start HERE in the U.S.
How sad it is to see children suffer!
How helpless one feels in solving the matter!
But merely doing lip service with no action
Means nothing; it’s worthless. It’s just idle chatter.
 
Who are these children, fleeing their homes—
Fleeing the lands where violence reigns?
Who are these kids whom the world has let down—
Whose hope for escape is all that remains?

- by Bob B

WHO are we really?
The person that we display
To others can’t be “real”—
We keep so much at bay.
 
Parent, sibling, relative,
Friend, acquaintance, foe—
Each relationship differs.
Do we ever completely let go?
 
Are you too guarded and cautious
To say what you believe?
Or do you speak your thoughts
And wear your heart on your sleeve?
 
Are you focused on you—
Whoever this “you” may be?
Are you truly aware of
The forest beyond the tree?
 
The incredible journey inward
Is a path that few people travel,
For once beyond the façade,
Self-concepts start to unravel.
 
Face the core of being—
Naked and alone—
And comprehend ideas
Previously unknown,
 
And come to the realization—
From whatever might befall—
That we are NOT alone,
But really one with all?
 
Our complex personalities
Are as varied as the books on our shelves.
How well do we know other people?
How well do we know ourselves?

- by Bob B

Wow, Mr. Robinson!°
Talk about an aberration!
You are very near to reaching
The lowest point of depravation.

You want to be the governor
Of North Carolina, you say.
But you do not appear to be
Going about it in a good way.

You said that reinstating human
Enslavement wouldn't be so bad
And that you'd "certainly buy a few"
Slaves if you could. What a cad!

And Dr. Martin Luther King
Was an f-word ****** b-word?
Well, Mr. Robinson,
You sound like a real p-word!

You prefer ****** to
Barack Obama? It seems you lack
An understanding of history.
Have you forgotten that you are black?

And yet you went and called yourself
A "black ****," which clearly means
You couldn't care less if you should blow
Your reputation to smithereens.

You attack transgender rights,
And when you said "some folks need killing,"
What folks were you talking about?
Your words at times are truly chilling.

You cannot help casting slurs
On Blacks and gays and Muslims and Jews.
How could anybody vote
For someone with such crazy views?

In choosing such a candidate
For governor, Mr. R,
It shows that state Republicans
Have definitely lowered the bar.

-by Bob B (9-21-24)

°Mark Robinson, Lt. Governor of NC and running for governor of the state

Who cares if the earth becomes
Uninhabitable in so many years?
Who cares if the Antarctic
And Arctic ice disappears?

Who cares if worldwide
The ocean's coral reefs are dying?
Who cares if extreme weather
Around the world's intensifying?

Who cares if coastal areas
Become flooded as sea levels rise?
Who cares if we must see
The rain forests' tragic demise?

Who cares if methane's released
From melting Arctic permafrost?
Who cares if global chaos
Causes countless lives to be lost?

Who cares if instability
Causes huge worldwide migrations?
Who cares what we leave
Behind for future generations?

Who cares if temperature
Extremes "cook" parts of the earth?
Who cares if crops fail
Because the land's of little worth?

Who cares if our warming planet
Allows for a greater spread of disease?
Who cares if the temperature
On earth rises a few degrees?

Who cares who suffers from
Particle and plastic pollution?
Who cares if leaders fail
To seek a climate change solution?

I care! We all should.
This is the only home we possess.
Complacency is dangerous.
Heed the call of the SOS!

-by Bob B (4-16-19)

Did God create human beings,
Or was it the other way around?
The question resembles a Zen koan--
Such as the one-handed clapping sound.

To some, merely asking the question
Is a virtual powder keg.
It's like the question: What came first--
Was it the chicken, or was it the egg?

Some things are beyond knowing:
We can only speculate
As to how and why we got here.
It's still fun to contemplate.

The writers of all religious scriptures
Have a bias they choose to share.
They hope that their ideas will make
Curious, hungry believers aware.

The story behind human existence
To some is a matter of great pith.
Others have a difficult time
Accepting a simple creation myth.

Some folks are not satisfied
And want to gaze beyond the façade--
Beyond the human formulations
That try to define the concept of God.

People adhere to what makes sense
To them, and some of them will chide me,
For I prefer to allow science,
Reason, and common sense to guide me.

Being able to think and question
Are benefits of humankind.
So who created whom? The query
Will always challenge the questioning mind.

-by Bob B (3-20-23)

Did God create human beings,
Or was it the other way around?
The question resembles a Zen koan--
Such as the one-handed clapping sound.

To some, merely asking the question
Is a virtual powder keg.
It's like the question: What came first--
Was it the chicken, or was it the egg?

Some things are beyond knowing:
We can only speculate
As to how and why we got here.
It's still fun to contemplate.

The writers of all religious scriptures
Have a bias they choose to share.
They hope that their ideas will make
Curious, hungry believers aware.

The story behind human existence
To some is a matter of great pith.
Others have a difficult time
Accepting a simple creation myth.

Some folks are not satisfied
And want to gaze beyond the façade--
Beyond the human formulations
That try to define the concept of God.

People adhere to what makes sense
To them, and some of them will chide me,
For I prefer to allow science,
Reason, and common sense to guide me.

Being able to think and question
Are benefits of humankind.
So who created whom? The query
Will always challenge the questioning mind.

-by Bob B (3-20-23)

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

Who does Putin think he is
To move into Ukraine
In order to carry out his vicious
And murderous campaign?

His love of power has gone to his head;
His greed has hardened his heart.
He has proved that he knows how
To make corruption an art.

Decapitating the government
Of Ukraine: a Putin goal.
Then he can install pro-Russian leaders
And thus maintain control.

Dissenters in Russia who criticize
Putin's bellicose ways,
Can be arrested or worse, for Putin
Demands devotion and praise.

Freedom and democracies
Don't work, according to him.
But can the people vote him out?
Sadly, chances are slim.

He wants to show the world that he has
Control that's ironclad.
He thinks if his neighbors are democratic,
Then THAT makes him look bad.

Well, in truth it does, for he keeps
Russians under his thumb.
If you think things are bad right now,
Then watch what's yet to come.

-by Bob B (2-25-22)

All of the mice gathered together
To discuss a problem, and no doubt it
Demanded their thoughtful, immediate attention;
They had to do something about it.

The cat, they agreed, was ruining their lives:
"No longer do we have free rein in this house."
"Our lives are miserable since the cat's
Become a threat to every mouse."

"Gone are the days when we could stealthily
Steal from the owners and plunder their food."
"Our spirits were high; our lives were easy.
The cat has seriously dampened our mood."

"I miss the days when we had the freedom
To chew and nibble and gnaw at will."
"We could come and go as we pleased.
But now--no more. This makes me ill."

The mice seemed to be at a loss
As to how to fix the situation.
"I know what we can do," said one.
The others listened in desperation.

"The cat so quietly sneaks around
On muffled paws, so what the heck?
The solution is simple: Let's just put
A warning bell around the cat's neck."

The mice all cheered in unison until
An old sage raised his hand.
"I like your enthusiasm;
Your idea sounds really grand."

He paused for a moment, and then he continued:
"But I have a question for you, and that
Is WHO from among this noble crowd
Is going to secure the bell to the cat?"

Not one mouse had an answer.
"Ah. That's what I thought you'd say:
Nothing!" said the wise old mouse
As he turned around and hobbled away.

So what's the moral of the story?
That should be plain for all to see.
Who are the mice, and who is the cat?
Think about it, and you tell me.

- by Bob B

World leaders met and Trump,
Who lives in various wonderlands,
Also had a meeting with Putin
And played right into the dictator's hands.

Trump admires Putin--a man
Who bullies targets to do his bidding.
If Trump's not aware that he's being played,
The neophyte has to be kidding.

A man who loves to undermine
Democracy and put down dissent,
Create chaos in the world
And pull the strings of our president,

Maintain control of a criminal state
Where greed, graft, and corruption hold sway,
And jail or **** opponents doesn't
Even deserve the time of day.

Yes, we know that power corrupts
And absolute power, absolutely.
Its hideous effect on a free people
Is something we're aware of acutely.

Does Trump just love the idea that Putin
Controls the country, controls the press,
Surrounds himself with loyalists,
And governs the people with fear and duress?

Not a pretty picture, of course.
Concerned Americans very much fear
That Putin-like threats to democracy
Are showing their ugly faces here.

- by Bob B (7-9-17)

Akkosaka Bhāradvāja--
The brahmin--found the Buddha one day
And railed against him, throwing harsh words
And abusive insults the Teacher's way.

The Buddha calmly said, "Dear brahmin,
Answer, please, my question to you:
You are a guest and your hosts offer food;
If you don't want it, what do you do?"

"I don't accept it," the brahmin answered.
"In that case to whom does the food belong?
To the hosts, no?" asked the Buddha.
"Tell me: am I right or wrong?"

"The offered food belongs to the hosts,
Of course," responded the brahmin surveying
With curiosity each word that
The great Master was wisely saying.

The Buddha said, "Likewise, if you do not
Accept the insults of those who blast you,
Their unwanted "gifts" stay with them,
While you are unscathed; you put it all past you."?

The brahmin, moved by the Buddha's words,
Reflected on the meaning and sought
Deeper understanding and wisdom
From all the lessons the Teacher taught.

If others try to hurt you with words,
Give their nasty comments short shrift
By staying unruffled, unperturbed--
By resolutely refusing their "gift."

- by Bob B

You'd better mind your p's and q's
And pay attention to the news
Or you'll be stuck forevermore
In a prison in El Salvador.

Trump has made a special deal
With that country, and it's real.
And CECOT° gets Trump's rubber stamp
For being a concentration camp.

Deportees are being--you see--
Sent there quite illegally.
Watch out if you have a tattoo,
For Trump might say good-bye to you,

And off to the prison you'll be flown,
Down there in the torrid zone.
Forget due process; it doesn't exist
For those on Trump's get-rid-of list.

People with even a legal status
Are victims of Trump's apparatus
Of hate and fear and terror and find
Themselves locked up in a real bind.

Once you're there, your rights have ceased.
Most likely, you won't be released.
Even if they admit mistakes,
The government says, Hey, that's the breaks.

Today deportees; tomorrow who knows
Will join the prisoners. That's how it goes
When autocrats are in control
And total power is their goal.

-by Bob B (4-17-25)

°Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo (Terrorism Confinement Center)

In horror we watched as our nation's
Capitol Building was overrun
By wild, angry pro-Trump mobs
On one…six…twenty-one.

Who were these people? you might ask.
Do you really want to know?
It's hard to imagine how people here
Could be so vile and stoop that low.

We could see T-shirts that read
6 - M - W - E.
"Six Million Wasn't Enough"
Is what they say it means, you see.

The number "Six Million"° refers
To the number of Jews whose lives were lost
Back in the 1940s during
The nightmarish Holocaust!

At least one **** wore a T-shirt
That read "Camp Auschwitz." He's a guy
You wouldn't want to bring home to Mother.
I'll give you fifty reasons why.

Some stormed through the halls of Congress
Waving Confederate flags. How telling!
Others were members of white militias,
Running through the building and yelling.

Others involved were QAnon people
Who have nothing better to do
Than think up bizarre conspiracy theories
And then pretend that the nonsense is true.

Members of the KKK
Also showed up there to endorse
The president. But who is shocked?
That is merely par for the course.

One thing that united them all
Was how they swallowed the president's lies.
After he fired them up at a rally,
Their wild behavior was not a surprise.

Trump says these are patriots!
Patriots? If such a display
Shows patriotism, then Trump is growing
More delusional every day.

-by Bob B (1-9-21)

°Some estimate that the number was millions more

"Why are you crying, mother of two?
Tears stain your fearful face."
"The country where I was born and raised
Is now a frightening, deadly place."

"Why are you crying, mother of two?
Tell me why your tears don't cease."
"The journey north is hard, yet we
Yearn to live in a land of peace."

"Why are you crying, mother of two?
Have you lost faith in your caravan?"
"The president says that we are a threat;
He says that we're the bogeyman."

"Why are you crying, mother of two?
Because you’re hungry and have no shoes?"
"We've come seeking asylum, yet we
Are now hearing discouraging news."

"Why are you crying, mother of two?
What is it that gives you pause?"
"We would like to be heard, but now
The president is changing the laws."

"Why are you crying, mother of two?
Do you fear the guard, or sentry?"
"They won't let us plead our case;
They're even blocking the ports of entry."

"Why are you crying, mother of two?
Why the chaos? Why the disorder?"
"Authorities see our desperation;
They've shot tear gas over the border."

"Why are you crying, mother of two?
You are running and out of breath."
"My future may be uncertain here,
But one thing I know: home means death."

-by Bob B (11-27-18)

Two men recently died from a clash
On a Portland light-rail train.
The two men lost their precious lives
For reasons so insane.

Someone, angry, confused, and deranged,
Entered the car and began
Assaulting two women verbally.
Obviously, the man

Was more than just a pesky nuisance,
For three passengers tried
To intervene because the rantings
And ravings wouldn't subside.

The white supremacist, Islamophobic
Madman yelled in a fury
That Muslims should die. The line between
Safety and danger was blurry.

The three heroes became the target
Of the reprobate.
He stabbed all three, but two of them died:
Victims of cruel hate.

One man was a former vet
And loving father of four;
The other a recent college grad,
Gone forevermore.

Even though we know the answer
We still ask ourselves why
It is that good Samaritans
Sometimes have to die.

- by Bob B (5-31-17)

C. B. was a son of a B!
Did anybody really like him?
Most of the people he encountered
Usually found more reasons to strike him.

In school the kids called him a bully.
Bully he was, and bully he did.
He derived inordinate pleasure
Tormenting any vulnerable kid.

His schoolyard behavior was no better
Than his disruptive behavior in class.
In fact, most teachers would call him
An incorrigible pain in the ***.

In high school he was just as aggressive.
His reputation was firmly upheld.
Holding a freshman's head in the toilet
Finally got the bully expelled.

How he earned money. Well, that was
A real mystery--through and through.
Not surprisingly his motto
Was "***** them before they ***** you."

What his girlfriend saw in him
Was truly anybody's guess.
Aware of his fractious personality,
The woman married him nevertheless.

People made bets on how long the couple
Could last in a stormy marriage from hell.
After the wife had had enough,
She packed up the kids and said farewell.

C. B. remained estranged
From both of his kids for the rest of his life.
Some woman out there was very lucky
For he never found another wife.

Money. That was all that mattered.
People? Employees? They were dispensable.
His dog was even afraid of him
And sensed that he was reprehensible.

He bought a number of businesses.
How they lasted was a surprise.
Frankly, most people suspected
Secret Mexican Mafia ties.

One day C. B.'s lifeless body
Was found in his driveway. The coroner said
A heart attack was the cause;
But some suspected foul play instead.

A gravestone reads: "Here lies C. B.
When life was hard, he would persist.
Survived by two loving children,
The doting father will be missed."

Whoever wrote that epitaph?
You wonder: what did he or she owe him?
The author of those unfounded words
Obviously didn't know him.

Oddly the deaths of louses and scoundrels
Are so hard to identify,
For based on gravestones and the obits,
It seems that only good people die.

- by Bob B (6-27-17)

Why do you walk so softly?
Why are you afraid?
Why do you speak in a whisper?
Why do you stay in the shade?

Why do you hide your feelings?
Why do you stand alone?
Why do you sing only solo?
Why do you fear the unknown?
 
Why are you defensive?
Why do you cover your ears?
Why do you close your mind?
Why do you stifle your tears?
 
Walk with honor and dignity.
Limit your fears to none.
Speak out loudly and clearly.
Enjoy the warmth of the sun.
 
Don’t be afraid to feel.
Stand with others in force.
Harmonize with others.
Let hope guide your course.
 
Be open and confident.
Hear the world’s cries.
See from different perspectives.
Blocking your tears is unwise.
 
COURAGE, my fellow seeker.
Be GENEROUS, but above all,
TRUST in your inner guidance.
TOGETHER we’ll stand tall.

- by Bob B

Elections do have consequences.
Apathy is detrimental.
Putting in office the wrong person
Is not merely coincidental.

Some people say, "No problem
If Donald Trump abuses his power.
He's giving me exactly what
I want, so why should I be sour?"

Other people--regarding their jobs--
Complacently say, "I’ve got work.
So why shouldn’t I vote for him,
Even though the man is a ****?”

Many might say, “I don’t care
How he acts or how much he lies.
MY life is going smoothly.
That's not something I'll jeopardize."

Regarding election meddling by
Foreign powers, people say,
"If it helps the president
To get elected, fire away."

"So what if White nationalists
Infect the White House," some insist.
"Don't racists and bigots and haters
Also have the right to exist?"

People say, "Trump has an ego
And acts like a child if no one feeds it.
So what if we've lost respect in the world.
To hell with respect! Bah, who needs it?"

And then there are also those who believe
Every word he utters, as though
They can't see that the more he speaks,
The more we know what he doesn't know.

Yes, elections matter a lot.
Know what's real; know what's fake.
Our future is hanging in the balance;
The soul of our nation is what's at stake.

-by Bob B (1-14-20)

On January 27,
Holocaust Remembrance Day,
The president signed an executive order.
Our blue skies are turning gray.

From seven countries we are halting
Visas and travel. There's a list.
The countries happen to be Muslim-
Dominated. Get the gist?

The order says it's temporary,
And it will surely have its fans.
But one problem is that the order
Opens the door to further bans.

Trump says it's not discrimination
Against a religion. Don't believe him.
Using language to assert his power,
He's letting illogical thoughts deceive him.

Invoking the victims of 9/11,
He says that the order will
Protect our nation from terrorists--
A promise that he wants to fulfill.

What is interesting to note
Is NONE of the terrorists who were blamed
For atrocious attacks on 9/11
Came from the seven countries named!

They came from Egypt, Lebanon,
Saudi Arabia, and the U.A.E.
But none of those countries are on the list.
What does that say? You tell me.

What a great way to alienate
Our allies with appalling success
And to radicalize more people
Around the world and in the U.S.!

The Statue of Liberty's torch is dimming.
Hardened hearts don't know why.
Look! The date on her tablet is fading!
Wipe a tear from Liberty's eye.

- by Bob B (1-28-17)

Seeking wisdom beyond wisdom
Is not as easy as some people say.
Once you think you've reached your goal,
You find you're miles and miles away.

All the words--the scriptures, the sayings--
Amount to a mere particle of dust
When compared with ultimate truth,
Beyond all measure, profound, robust.

The dangerous ones, who judge and condemn,
Who blame and shame and vilify,
Smolder in the embers of intolerant beliefs
That shape their moral battle cry.

Yongjia Xuanjiao of the Tang Dynasty--
Thinker and inspirational muse--
Cautioned humanity NOT to slander
The vast blue sky with limited views.

- by Bob B

People often say what they wish,
And when they do, it's always nice
When speakers of English express themselves
In language that is clear and precise.

Presently, if you're somewhere else,
And I would rather have you near,
And if I were speaking with you on the phone,
I'd say, "I really wish you were here."

If, however, I speak of the past,
And my disappointment I wish to convey
Because you couldn't be where I was,
"I wish you had been there" is what I would say.

For "wish" situations, if present, think past:
"I wish I knew the method right now."
Here I am saying that if I were able
To demonstrate something, I'd show you how.

For past situations, think past perfect:
"I wish I had known the secret back then."
Whatever the secret was, this means
That I didn't know it way back when.

"I wish she were able to join us today."
"We wish we had a million bucks."
"I wish you had been at the game with us."
"He wishes he hadn't said, 'That *****!'"

When "wish" expressions are used with care
And modeled for others to hear and read,
We say exactly what we mean,
And that is marvelous indeed!

-by Bob B (6-11-24)

Watch out! They say they represent
Your likes, your wants, your needs.
Their spurious reasoning sounds convincing;
So what if it misleads.

They claim they're looking out for you--
Protecting your freedom to choose.
Yet they're investing elsewhere, thus,
Protecting your freedom to lose.

Their highfalutin promises
Of justice, pride, and respect
Are cheap façades that cover up
Exploitative neglect.

They boast their record, sing their own praises--
Right before your eyes.
They hope you don't discover that
It's all a pack of lies.

They'll trick you into seeing others
With fearful suspicion and loathing.
Watch out! Beware! Be on your guard
For sly wolves in sheep's clothing.

- by Bob B

(This poem could be sung to the melody of Crystal Gayle's song "Don't It Make My Brown Eyes Blue?")

It's a daily déjà vu:
Hearing MAGA people spew
Trump's weird point of view.
And won't that turn our red states blue?

He thinks he can carry on
With his lies that make us yawn.
Well, that's nothing new.
I hope that turns our red states blue.

All that he says is odd and unkind.
It really seems that he's losing his mind.
It's just as though he's become a cliché.
Donald J Trump is becoming passé

Keep it up, Trump, and you will fail.
Maybe you will then bewail
The part you played when you
Helped TURN some of our red states,
Turn some of our red states,
Turn some of our red states blue.

-by Bob B (8-17-24)

Being nasty can rile your critics,
Stir up your fans, and incite your base.
That nastiness can leave an ugly
Mark that's difficult to erase.

Being narcissistic might make
Your fans think you have inner strength,
Though others can see how catty and petty
You are when rambling on at length.

Saying you're a nationalist
Might make you think you sound patriotic,
Although you embolden neo-Nazis
And others who find your words hypnotic.

Dehumanizing people
Is cruel and has a disastrous effect.
It shows your carelessness, your lack
Of sympathy, and lack of respect.

Calling asylum seekers "invaders,"
Enemies who are infesting our land,
Spreads a political fiction--a hoax--
That dangerously gets out of hand.

Perverse culprits devour your words.
Unstable extremists can hear
A message no matter how you meant it,
Thinking you've put a bug in their ear.

Then the killers--equipped to the max
With all the deadly weapons they need--
Go on a violent shooting spree:
Death and injury guaranteed.

Rhetoric has consequences.
Words really matter a lot.
Violence breeds violence
When hatred is so carefully taught.

-by Bob B (10-30-18)

Russian soldier, throw down your arms.
Turn around and leave Ukraine.
Are you proud of what you're doing--
Of all the innocent people you've slain?

Have you lost your dignity?
Your actions there will be your disgrace.
If you stand in front of a mirror,
How can you look at yourself in the face?

Doesn't it faze you when you hear
The cries of the people, day and night?
When homes and schools and hospitals
Are bombed, don't you feel contrite?

Have you lost some fellow soldiers
All because of Putin's lies--
Even though he calls his war
A military exercise?

Were your buddies' dying bodies
Left behind on the streets to rot?
Can you fathom the repercussions
Of what's going on, or can you not?

Are you proud of laying waste
To cities and towns in your neighboring land?
Human compassion: Could that be
Something you don't understand?

Stop doing Vladimir Putin's bidding!
Refuse his atrocious orders. Rebel.
Put an end to war crimes there,
And tell the tyrant to go to hell.

-by Bob B (3-24-22)

Russian parents, do you know
Where your children are today?
Might they be on Ukrainian soil,
Many many miles away?

Might your kids be soldiers on
A Russian military squad,
Set out to **** Ukrainians
And bolster Putin's outrageous façade?

Might they be attacking civilians
And leaving their bodies strewn about,
While causing other atrocities
That we keep seeing day in, day out?

Perhaps they have been caught between
Following orders they know aren't right
Made by a dictatorial leader
Whose human compassion has taken flight

And knowing the truth and wondering
If that's who they were meant to be--
Conscripts used to fight a war
With nightmarish brutality.

When you watch your Putin-controlled
TV news, are you aware
That you are being lied to, and if
You do know that, do you care?

Can you feel the repercussions
Brought about by Putin's war?
Give it some thought. Do you have
Any inkling of what's in store?

If committing atrocities
Is the appropriate thing to do,
And if you're proud of your kids for doing that,
Shame on them and shame on you.

-by Bob B (4-4-22)

Tell me: What is your worst nightmare
If you’re a parent? I bet I know.
It's something that parents didn't have to
Worry about years ago.

You send your child to school and say,
"See you this afternoon," and then
A mass shooting occurs, and you NEVER
See your child alive again.

THAT's a parent's worst nightmare,
Which happens here in the United States
More often than anywhere else,
For the gun lobby dominates.

If your children are safe and sound,
Count your blessings, and while you do,
Weep for ALL the parents out there
Who haven't been as lucky as you.

In all the world, it's only here
That gun extremists are in control.
How many more of our kids will die
Before the fanatics achieve their goal?

So what will you do to stop the madness?
Sit on your hands and let it continue?
Or will you ACT to finally end
This nightmare? Do you have it within you?

We shouldn't have to live like this.
People are being murdered while we
Let the killings continue by
Responding with our apathy.

-by Bob B (12-4-21)

As Trump becomes more demented,
We know what would happen should he
Win a second term: the person
Running the country would be the VP.

JD Vance, who's held an elected
Office for only a very short time,
Would do his best to fully dismantle
The government with his partner in crime.

Vance, along with others, would have
Our institutions "pulled to pieces."
The more we hear him talk, the more
His ugly extremism increases.

Purge the federal government
Of secular leaders, he has said,
And fill all the positions with
Christian nationalists instead.

Tech leaders such as Musk
Should be planning our future as well,
He feels. And powerful leaders must also
Be ruthless. To hell with the freedom bell!

Freedom and democracy
Are incompatible, he claims.
Enforcing HIS idea of
Morality is one of his aims.

What the majority of people
Feel is not important to Vance.
Strong leaders impose their will--
An antidemocratic stance!

Vance supports abortion bans.
For him, of course, it goes without saying.
It wouldn't surprise me if he said that God
Talked to him when he was praying.

This is just a smattering
Of all the damage that Vance could do.
If he pulled it off, it would
Be a devastating coup.

-by Bob B (10-16-24)

It's hard to believe it, but now it's official.
I've reached an important milestone today:
I am now a septuagenarian.
I can't help saying, "Hip hip hooray!"

It's not that being this old is so great,
But what I mean--and that's no jive--
Is how it beats the alternative.
Although I'm older, I'm still alive!

Alive and well; so far, so good.
I'm not ready to take my last bow,
Kick the bucket, or give up the ghost.
What is important? To live in the now.

Many friends and relatives didn't
Make it this far, which is sad.
Our times together make up some of
The fondest memories that I've had.

Life with all its exigencies
Can at times be overly demanding.
But knowing that life is impermanent
Is vital to our understanding.

Our bodies are like a river or stream--
Constantly flowing, constantly changing.
And, yes, when we advance in years,
We often need some rearranging.

Sixty was nice, but frankly the word
"Seventy" gently rolls off the tongue.
There are languages still to be learned,
Books to be read, songs to be sung.

I've been lucky all these years.
No, I really can't complain.
I'm ready to make a toast to life,
So pop the cork and pour the champagne!

-by Bob B (8-15-49)

Just in case you're unaware,
There are many folks out there
Who sadly have been rounded up
And wrongfully detained.

A president who's unrelenting
And WHO is always circumventing
Laws is pushing cruelty;
In him that is ingrained.

He called his act a state of war
And sent folks to El Salvador
Where many were mistreated; they
Were tortured and abused.

A lot of people living here
Are forced to live in constant fear
Of what the government might do
And methods being used.

Folks are snatched from off the street.
Plain-clothed, masked, and indiscreet,
The "agents" representing ICE
Are really crooks and thugs.

Citizens are targets, too.
If YOU are one, what would you do
If you were stopped and held for hours
Or days? But Trump just shrugs.

Is this what we've come to be?
What happened to the land where we
Believed in rights, due process, and
The vital rule of law?

Republicans in Congress! How
Can they support what's happening now?
Ask them what they think and they
Will merely hem and haw.

The situation we are in--
I mean the color of our skin--
Can put a target on our backs,
As cruel as that might sound.

Don't let silence be your guide.
Be vigilant and open-eyed.
Empty the detention camps
And burn them to the ground.

-by Bob B (7-26-25)

Regarding the Trump administration...

Trump says his administration
Runs just like a "fine-tuned machine."
He's got to be kidding! This is the most
Dysfunctional one we've ever seen!
Yikes!

Regarding General Flynn…

Regarding Flynn's resignation,
Trump refuses to give up the fight.
He says that Flynn did nothing wrong;
"If anything, he did something right."
Yikes!

Regarding the Electoral College…

Trump insists that since Ronald Reagan,
He received the most votes.
Bush one, Bill Clinton, and Obama got more.
Who the heck is writing his notes?
Yikes!

Regarding the media…

Trump's still calling the questioning press
Dishonest, and he cannot understand
Why there's so much negativity.
He lives in a definite fantasy land!
Yikes!

Regarding TV…

Trump considers "Fox & Friends"
The most "honest morning show."
That is downright scary to hear.
Fatuity's reached a new plateau.
Yikes!

Regarding bigotry and respect…**

Trump says he's the least racist
Person that you'll ever see.
And last fall he said that no one
Respects women more than he!
Yikes!

- by Bob B (2-16-17)

(Can be sung to the tune of "Santa Claus Is Comin' to Town")

You'd better take heed; you'd better not bawl
When you read all the writing on the wall:
You are going to be IMPEACHED.
You can deny what you have done,
But you cannot fool everyone.
You are going to be IMPEACHED.
Mueller's digging deeper,
No matter what you do.
No matter what you think or say,
He's got the goods on you.
So! You'd better take heed; you'd better not bawl
When you read all the writing on the wall:
You are going to be IMPEACHED.

Putin can say he wasn't involved,
And you say, "Hey! Now I'm absolved."
You are going to be IMPEACHED.
Republican friends in Congress can try
To undermine the Mueller probe and lie.
You're still going to be IMPEACHED.
The people in this country are jumping up and down.
Finally there'll be oversight: the Dems have come to town.
So! You'd better take heed; you'd better not bawl
When you read all the writing on the wall:
You are going to be IMPEACHED.

You think that you are free and clear.
Keep your eyes open as storm clouds near.
You are going to be IMPEACHED.
You can say "No collusion" each day.
The truth of the matter won't go away.
You are going to be IMPEACHED.
Among your co-conspirators someone's spilled the beans;
Someone's told the truth about you,
And you know what that means.
So! You'd better take heed; don't weep and wail.
Worst case scenario: time in jail.
You are going to be IMPEACHED.

-by Bob B (12-10-18)

Wise adults know the value
Of leaving foolish thoughts unexpressed.
Somehow that message has been lost
On rap singer Kanye West.

When mentioning the many years
Of suffering when the enslaved had to toil
And live in fear of whippings and lynchings
And **** here on American soil,

West has now made slavery
A topic to which he's given voice:
That it lasted for so many years
Means that it must have been a choice!

West claims that he's a freethinker.
Critics, of course, will disagree.
Anyone who knows the past
Would substitute "non" for "free."

If that's his desire for recognition,
He's found an odd way to gratify it.
What a way to promote an album!
Who the hell would want to buy it?

The singer, desperate for attention,
Is just like somebody else we know.
Money, fame, and power can turn you
Into a real so-and-so.

-by Bob B (5-7-18)

Secretary of State Tillerson's
Spokesman, Steve Goldstein was canned
For having told the truth. It seems
That truth in the White House is NOT in demand.

When Tillerson learned that he had been
Removed from office through a tweet,
Goldstein merely reported the news.
Trump found that indiscreet.

Andrew McCabe, Deputy
Director of the FBI,
Was also fired by Trump (through Sessions)
As circumstances intensify.

Trump has nurtured an ongoing effort
To unashamedly cast doubt
On FBI personnel
To one by one **** them out.

You can perform exemplary service--
Working your tail off year after year--
Investigate alleged wrongdoings,
And then find yourself out on your ear.

The president and some of his cronies
Have spoken before of an FBI purge.
When purges occur, we can watch
As autocrats' true intentions emerge.

In the case of McCabe we have seen
******* up charges become the excuse.
That after McCabe for months
Put up with Trump's verbal abuse.

A mean desire to humiliate?
A thirst for vengeance? Need we mention
That Andrew McCabe was fired two days
Before he would receive his full pension?

If Congress refuses to act, the only
Solution will come from the voting booth,
Where voters reject someone who'd fire
Officials for seeking or telling the truth.

-by Bob B (3-17-18)

FIRE

What stands out as your element?
Do you shine and inspire?
Do you radiate confidence?
If so, you're probably FIRE.

Then you'll show initiative,
Enthusiasm, and strength.
You'll be fearless, blunt, and outgoing,
Encouraging others at length.

You might be impatient at times,
And maybe you like to lead.
Others might find it difficult
To keep up with your speed.

AIR

Or maybe AIR is more your thing,
In which case you will find
A rational objectivity
Brings order to your mind.

Curious about the world,
You'll crave for understanding.
Being allowed to express yourself
Will never be too demanding.

Relationships are important to you,
And so is sociability.
Loving concepts and principles, you'll
Demonstrate mental agility.

WATER

Perhaps WATER defines you more.
Reflection will be the balm
Protecting you from outer chaos
And giving you inner calm.

You'll tend to trust your intuition,
And empathy will guide you.
Your sensitive nature will like the comfort
That secrecy can provide you.

Being involved emotionally
With others is a must.
Your compassionate heart will give you
Advice on whom to trust.

EARTH

And then there's EARTH. If that's you,
Your patience will be key.
Caution makes you always want
To seek a guarantee.

Extremely practical in nature,
Stable and dependable,
You might sometimes go too far
And then become unbendable.

Attuned to much of the physical world
With heightened physical senses,
Your self-discipline and grit
Have fruitful consequences.

AND SO…

What is your dominant element,
Which you should make your friend--
FIRE, AIR, WATER, OR EARTH--
Or are you a marvelous blend?

-by Bob B (2-3-22)

D.J.T. to world autocrats:

"If you can rule with an iron fist
And get your critics to cease and desist
By forceful means--get the gist?--
Then you're my man.

"If you have got the strength and power
To make the wondering masses cower,
And if you'll let me build my tower,
Then you're my man.

"If you know how to control elections
And put down those who raise objections
Because you've got the right connections,
Then you're my man.

"If you get people to misconstrue
Deceitful things you say or do
'Cause you've got people who'll lie for you,
Then you're my man.

"If you know how to ride roughshod
Over the rules to get the nod
For finance and insurance fraud,
Then you're my man.

"If you know how to blast and blame
To make divide and conquer your game,
And deception is your claim to fame,
Then you're my man.

"If you can win through populism,
Get away with nepotism,
And stoke the fires of nativism,
Then you're my man.

"If you know how to cleverly make
Your trusting fans give you a break,
Despite the fact that you're a fake,
Then you're my man.

"If you know how to work it right
And let yourself be full of fight
So you can gain more power and might,
Then you're my man."

-by Bob B (3-3-19)

Walking along a dusty road
In the heat of a summer's day,
Two weary travelers looked for a place
To rest along the way.

They wanted to find shelter from
The fiery rays of the sun.
One said, "Look! I see a place."
The other said, "Well done!"

They sauntered to spot nearby
Where a plane tree stood,
And plopped down on the ground below.
Ah, the shade felt good!

While lying there, one of the travelers
Looked up at the tree,
And said to the other, "This tree is quite
Useless. Don't you agree?

"It drops its leaves and produces no fruit.
Although it stands so tall,
It basically doesn't perform any
Service to mankind at all."

"You ungrateful person!," cried
The plane tree full of rage.
"How dare you be so insolent
With somebody my age!

"Here I stand protecting you
From the scorching rays
Emitted by the sun and yet
I get no word of praise.

"You enjoy my cool shade
And find relief therefrom
And then go on to say that I'm
A good-for-nothing ***."

Ah, the poor tree learned that human
Beings can be rude,
When they upon receiving kindness
Display ingratitude.

-by Bob B (8-24-21)

°An Aesop fable, "The Travelers and the Plane Tree," retold here in verse

We’re your friendly Republican
Legislators! Yay!
Whether state or federal,
We are here to stay.
We will change the laws to make
Sure that we maintain
All the power that we want;
We won’t let it wane.

We will use all strategies
To get what we desire--
Even if we have to lie,
Hoodwink or conspire.
If we make it hard to vote,
That will help us win,
As we watch opponents fall
Into a tailspin.

If opponents get perchance
More votes, we won’t grieve,
For we have something really quite
Sneaky up our sleeve.
It will be an obstacle
Easy to surmount:
We’ll find devious ways to make
Opponents' votes not count.

If you look into our eyes
And see we have no soul,
That’s okay ‘cause all we want
Are power and control.
If sacrificing democratic
Values in order to keep
Our power and authority,
We don't give a (bleep).

-by Bob B (3-26-21)

Hey, come join us. Be a part
Of what our Party has come to be:
The re-imagined, highly unorthodox,
Radicalized GOP.

Proud Boys and other radical groups,
Step on up; display your charms.
You have found a home with us;
We welcome you with open arms.

White supremacists, don't worry:
The GOP won't shy away
From giving you a place where you
Can spew your hate and have your say.

QAnon folks, some of your
Conspiracy theories are right up our alley.
Of course, you'll be expected to
Show up at each Republican rally.

One of our leading goals is to make
It harder and harder for people to vote.
Overturning election results
Is something else that we promote.

If we say Dems are anti-American
And scream "Socialism!" enough,
We can pretend to be patriots
And dare the Left to call our bluff.

Facts are not important to us
As long as we can be in control.
Equality and justice both
Play for us a minor role.

We don’t care how wacky you are;
We just rely on your total support.
The key words that guide us now
Are "loyalty," "gaslight," "distract," and "distort."

Of course, we yell out "Unity!"
With fingers crossed behind our backs.
Power is where it's at, and we
Thrive on power to the max.

When it comes to rules, flout them--
Unless they serve your needs at the time.
The end will justify the means.
Not to believe that would be a crime.

The obstacles to achieving power
Are certainly NOT insurmountable.
We like accountability,
As long as you don't hold us accountable.

If probity is not an issue,
You are going to like what you see:
The re-imagined, highly unorthodox,
Radicalized GOP.

-by Bob B (2-6-21)

So you trust that the Wizard
Will get you home again?
When you're left behind,
What will you do then?

Many see the Wizard
In different manifestations
And fail to recognize
The charlatan's limitations.

Is he a giant head,
Full of fury and ire?
Is he a heartless monster
Or a raging fire?

Don't you realize
You've made a huge mistake
By putting all your trust in
A flimflam man, a fake?

The show fools many
Who don't see past the façade--
Who scorn others who try
To open their eyes to fraud.

He doesn't want the people
To see what he really is--
To see how he has managed
To acquire all that's his.

He will try to convince you
That what he sells you is fair.
Then one day your find
He's nothing but hot air.

Just be grateful when--
And it couldn't happen too soon--
The sly, slippery Wizard
Sails off in his hot air balloon.

-by Bob B (8-12-17)

(Can be sung to the tune of "Here Comes Peter Cottontail")

"You won't see my tax returns.
So what if you've got concerns.
You are never going to get your way.

"Though I talk transparency,
It does NOT apply to me.
You can ask but I will not obey.

"I've got **** Mulvaney,
And he has got my back.
I don't cave to pressure;
I will never crack.

"So you won't see my tax returns.
You can stick all your concerns
Up a dark place where the sun don't shine.

"No, YOU won't see my tax returns.
Just how much a president earns
Shall remain a secret, which is mine.

"I don't care if they resort
To laws, then we'll end up in court.
All I have to say is 'Make my day!'

"Business ties with Russia
And other countries, too,
And how I make my money
Are NO concern to you.

"So…
You won't see my tax returns.
Anyone who knows me learns
Very quickly I do things my way.

"Everyone has things to hide.
Cover-ups are justified.
My returns won't see the light of day.
No, my returns won't see the light of day."

-by Bob B (4-8-19)

(This poem can be sung to the melody "Clang, Clang, Clang Went the Trolley," by Hugh Martin and Ralph Blane and sung by Judy Garland.)

With my questions teeming, with an open mind,
And with fear of what might come about,
I scoured the information and looked for inspiration
To deal with rampant doubt.
As the COVID virus spread around the globe,
It was not some silly little game.
It spread and it spread, and what lay ahead
Made it clear we'd remember its name.

Zoom, zoom, zoom went the virus--
Si-, si-, silent but real.
Why, why, why, asked the people,
Do we have to face such an ordeal?

Squirt, squirt, squirt went the vaccine
Pumped, pumped, into each arm.
Crossed, crossed, crossed went our fingers
That the vaccine would work like a charm.

Though not foolproof, somehow it works.
We know that vaccinations have a lot of perks.
We will be safe to a degree--
Safer than without it; that is a cinch to see.

Hiss, hiss, hiss went deniers.
Stop, stop, stop! went their screams.
Free-, free-, freedom! they shouted.
And the more that they squawked with their reasons half-cocked,
We could tell…
They enjoyed raising hell.

Why do they have to be so strange?
Maybe there is hope that some of them will change.
Why don't they listen to the pros,
And stop believing lies that add to all our woes?

Sniff, sniff, sniff go our noses.
Swish, swish, we wipe our tears
As we remember our loved ones.
After we've dodged the darts
Let us hold in our hearts all the vast
Memories we've amassed.
What a blast! Not aghast we'll hold fast when at last
COVID'S passed. Yes, and THEN…
We'll be safe once AGAIN!

-by Bob B (10-20-21)

Will Russia's election meddling ever
Come to an end? We keep hopin'.
But now the president blatantly
Colludes with Putin out in the open!

Recently, another phone call
Between Trump and Putin occurred.
Was Russian election meddling mentioned?
According to Trump, NOT one word.

But why would Trump want to stop
Interference in our elections?
If Russia helped him win before,
Why would he NOW raise objections?

He doesn't trust investigators
Here. He'd rather demonize
The FBI, while at the same time
He swallows all of Putin's lies.

Now team Trump seeks outside help
To hopefully tarnish the reputation
Of another political opponent.
Character assassination.

No maneuver is too low for Trump.
Will his actions come back to haunt him?
One thing we know: the Russians have
Donald Trump right where they want him.

People concerned about America's
Strength and safety should be upset
As Trump spins the cylinder
In a dangerous game of Russian roulette.

-by Bob B (5-4-19)