So You Want to Vote? Sorry!

The attack on voters has succeeded

In Texas--just to name one state.

Thousands of voters have been disenfranchised.

Thinking voters should be irate.

Politicians have craftily managed

To make it harder for people to vote,

Despite the fact that the probability

Of voting abuse is extremely remote.

Some news stations are creating scenarios

Of voter fraud--absurd allegations--

In efforts to justify voter suppression

Through suppositions and false accusations.

Got a gun permit? You are safe.

You can vote; you're a lucky duck.

You only have a student I.D.?

Sorry, but you're out of luck.

In a democracy you'd think our strategy

Would lead in the other direction, which means

We WOULDN'T discourage people from voting

And blow voting rights to smithereens.

Why discourage our citizens from voting?

Why are some politicians so distrusting?

Those are rhetorical questions, really.

The answers are obvious and quite disgusting.

(10-29-14)

Not Again!

As we dawdle and sit on our hands,

Another school shooting takes place.

Add Marysville, Washington, now

To the statistics. Another sad case.

When NO solution is THE solution,

Such atrocious acts will recur.

Since we're not addressing the problem,

Is the status quo what people prefer?

Have we become so inured

To school shootings--Don't let it be true!--

That when such violent incidents occur,

Our response is, "So what else is new?"

By Bob B (10-24-14)

Fleeting Time

Fleeting time:

Just try to contain it;

Try to grasp it,

Hold it, regain it.

Time evades us

Like liquid through a sieve.

Our best option

Is to LIVE and LET LIVE.

To appreciate the moment:

Make that your VOW.

Bask in the light

Of the eternal NOW.

By Bob B (10-24-14)

Two Soldiers

Holding his adversary

Carefully within his scope

To soldier A is a challenge--

A distant, forlorn hope.

An occasional glimpse of a helmet…

An aim as yet unfulfilled…

He knows that he has no choice:

It's kill, or he will be killed.

Good timing is essential.

All he can do is lie low…

And wait. But there is something

That he doesn't know:

His enemy across the field--

Let's call him soldier B--

Is, like himself, a father--

And also a father of three.

He lives for his children,

Who are the light of his life;

And he hates not being at home

To support his struggling wife.

His two older brothers

Died in a previous war.

His mother died of grief.

How can he settle the score?

For now he can only take aim

At his enemy--at soldier A.

"Focus!" he tells himself. "Focus!"

As his mind starts drifting away.

Though soldier A is his target,

B is unaware, too,

Of soldier A's situation--

Of all that he is going through:

Soldier A's three children

Count the days till their dad

Will come home to take them to ball games--

To return to the life they once had.

The youngest child needs treatment

For a rare, childhood disease.

The middle child is being bullied

And requires his dad's expertise.

His wife--on the verge of a breakdown--

Finds it hard to suppress

The constant fears within her

That add to life's daily stress.

***

So soldier A and B

Await the instant to shoot--

To end the life of the other.

For that they deserve a salute?

If the two soldiers could only

Lay down their weapons and race

Across the shell-pitted field

And into each other's embrace,

Wouldn't that be amazing?

Much needless suffering would end.

And they could consider everyone

A brother or sister or friend.

Ah, but that's just a fantasy--

An illusion, a fancy, a dream,

An unreal expectation

With no place in mankind's scheme.

For as long as we're driven by ego,

And ignorance and vengeance and fear,

We're caught in a vicious circle,

And wars will not disappear.

(10-22-14) By Bob B

Drugs of Preference

Some don't want to be awakened

From their peaceful slumber

And choose not to hear the existing truths

That overwhelmingly outnumber

The copious, complacent fairy tales

That fill their lives and dreams

And hold them hostage from the facts

Completely, or so it seems.

Their sleeping pill is called "Not Caring."

It's cheap and easy to find.

It dulls the senses and provides the user

With a perfidious peace of mind.

A stronger pill called "Oblivion"

Is also widely available.

Those who take it think that their lack

Of involvement is unassailable.

Stronger yet is a pill called "Forgetfulness."

Many prefer that pill,

Which allows them the blissful ability

To forget anything at will.

So cheap they are--these drugs of preference--

That they have found their niche;

And furthermore, they don't discriminate

Between the poor and rich.

Instead of listening to the cries of the world--

Of injustice, of inhumanity--

Many prefer to sleep in indifference.

Now that's what I call insanity!

By Bob B (10-22-14)

The Pilgrim

The travel-weary pilgrim trudged

Onward toward his goal--

Hoping to find peace and comfort

For his questioning soul.

Uphill and downhill, through forests and fields,

Step by step he plodded

Upon the blistering path. While passing

Fellow pilgrims, he nodded.

Beating down upon him the sun--

Merciless, piercing, terrible--

Made each step an agonizing

Ordeal--harsh and unbearable.

A restful night at a hostel or shelter

Was refuge from the pain

Of hours and hours of walking through

The sweltering heat or rain.

Some days were kinder--the sun was gentle,

The breeze was soft and cool.

He'd stop and gaze at the blue sky above him

And wash his feet in a pool.

But usually hungry and thirsty he journeyed,

Hoping not to find

That after hours of walking and stumbling

He'd left something behind.

Loosening the cutting strap of his backpack

And giving his dry lips a lick,

He carefully wiped his dripping brow

And clutched his walking stick.

If his pilgrimage didn't bring him

Closer to God, it would

At least bring him closer to himself,

And that alone would be good.

By Bob B (10-21-14)

Media Clowns

Media clowns like Rush Limbaugh…

Take them seriously? No way!

Their preposterous far-right ramblings:

Contorted thoughts in disarray;

Rank speculations housing

Tumid truculence and bloated blather;

Conspiracy theories NOT factually-

Based, but on deception, rather.

What is it--mental illness?

Insecurity? potty training?--

That causes such anomalous behavior,

So destructive and disdaining?

What causes them to perpetrate

Scurrilous attacks with such lethality?

How could people be so diabolical

And out of touch with reality?

With shootings, beheadings, wars, disease,

And climate change--all so grim--

At least Limbaugh's rantings and ravings

Allow us to laugh at him.

By Bob B (10-9-14)