Benghazi

Are you not totally astounded
By some politicians' fixation
On incidents at Benghazi?
Such political manipulation!

My goodness, I thought this obsession
Had eventually run its course.
Talk about wasting our time--
Or beating a dead horse!


By Bob B (5-31-14)

Hey There, Mr. Slug!

“Hey there, Mr. Slug! Why do you like my cymbidiums?
Why don’t you dine on the dandelions that so abundantly grow?”
“Well, Mr. Bob, your cymbidiums are so delicious,
And your weeds are not so agreeable. I feel you ought to know.”

“Hey there, Mr. Termite! Why do you like my house?
Why can’t you chomp on the neighbors’—the one with such beautiful wood.”
“Well, Mr. Bob, your house is so nutritious.
Your neighbors’ house has been treated, and it doesn’t taste so good.”

“Hey there, Mrs. Whitefly! Do you have to kill my hibiscus?
What’s wrong with the morning glories that cover the neighbors’ fence.”
“Well, Mister Bob, hibiscus plants are enticing;
If I tried to feast on the others, I’d be lacking in common sense.”

“Hey there, Mr. Aphid! Do you have to devour my roses?
Why can’t you gorge on the grasses that grow in yonder field?”
“Well, Mr. Bob, not a thing over there in that field
Has the lure of the genus Rosa, but I’ll keep my eyes peeled.”

“Hey there, Mrs. Fly! Do you have to buzz into MY house?
What is wrong with the neighbors’—the one with the door open wide?”
“Well, Mr. Bob, we love the smell of your cookies,
And cakes, and blueberry cobblers. We’re dying to get inside!”

“Well, so much for asking! At least I made an attempt
To deal with you pesty visitors; to bid you all adieu.”
“Sorry, Mr. Bob. We don’t feel very welcome;
But perhaps you’ve forgotten something: WE were here long before YOU.”


By Bob B (5-29-14)

Shame, Oh Shame on You, America!

Shame, oh shame on you, America!

I swear this is really as low as it gets:

To fail those faithful ones who served you.

How can you do this to our vets?

Oh, you who love to send our soldiers

To fight your battles in a distant land,

And bring them home—injured, rattled—

And then deny them a helping hand

Because we can’t afford the costs

Of meeting the growing number of cases.

You drop off your kids at their private schools

Then go to your clubs and stuff your faces!

Shame, oh shame on you, America,

For ignoring those who’ve sounded the alarm.

Your heedlessness and your thoughtless greed

Have caused our vets irreparable harm.

How sad it is when our veteran facilities,

Choosing to avoid some angry looks,

Solve the problem of limited funds

With the simple approach of cooking the books!

Some vets languish on wait lists for weeks,

Hoping against hope that assistance arrives

Before their frustrations overwhelm them

And they end up taking their lives.

Why aren’t our vets our top priority?

I guess it’s more important that we

Provide huge tax breaks to the wealthy

And subsidize corporations, you see.

Shame, oh shame on you, America!

You’re quick to spend your money on wars,

But slow to help our needy veterans

Here on our vast, indifferent shores!

(5-29-14) By Bob B