The Death of Freddie Gray

Baltimore's recovering from riots by frustrated

Citizens who entered the fray.

What--this time--caused the unrest?

The death of Freddie Gray.

We hear that while he was in police custody--

Is someone suggesting foul play?--

Mysterious circumstances brought about

The death of Freddie Gray.

Witnesses attest that after mistreatment

The victim did, by the way,

Request medical attention. Very strange:

The death of Freddie Gray?

Did being transported without any seat belts--

Tell me: yea or nay--

Injure the larynx and spinal cord occasioning

The death of Freddie Gray?

When asked about Gray, the father said,

"He's dead. What more can I say?"--

Expressing sad loss and helpless frustration

At the death of Freddie Gray.

Violence breeds violence; we all know that.

Brutality should never hold sway.

What can be done to prevent more deaths

Such as that of Freddie Gray?

Soul-searching could provide solutions

And maybe keep at bay

Circumstances such as those that caused

The death of Freddie Gray.

(4-30-15) By Bob B

All Things

Starting out as a precocious child,

He always maintained a calm exterior.

He never begrudged the competition

For winning and never felt inferior.

A lucky streak would occur for a while;

A spate of losses would follow. Alas!

He took the wins and losses in stride

And merely stated, "All things must pass."

He felt he was somewhat lucky in life--

Though luck always comes and goes, it seems.

He met someone and fell in love--

He claimed he'd found the "girl of his dreams."

Three kids later they parted ways--

By mutual consent--no fights; no sorrow.

"So it goes," he calmly said.

"Here today and gone tomorrow."

His acumen in business matters

Brought him solid financial security

While many competitors sadly foundered

And faded away into obscurity.

He kept his dignity and calm demeanor,

Even during a major fumble,

And said, "Life is constant change,"

When Wall Street took a disastrous tumble.

A second marriage later in life

For him was a type of resurrection

As he and his new love explored the world.

That gave his life a new direction.

When she succumbed to a major illness,

His feelings, over which he held sway,

Allowed him to grieve by quoting George Harrison

As he said, "All things must pass away."

"I've had a good life," he'd proudly aver,

"I have no regrets and no complaints.

I'm not the biggest cad in the world,

And you won't find me among the saints."

While on his death bed surrounded by family--

Knowing it was his final hour--

Unable to talk, he lovingly smiled

And pointed at a wilting flower.

(4-25-15) By Bob B

Restraint

Ohio Officer Jesse Kidder

Found himself in a situation…

Model behavior? Maybe, but

Does he deserve a standing ovation?

Yes, it's great that he showed restraint

When Michael Wilcox rushed toward him

Demanding that Kidder shoot him dead.

The murder suspect madly implored him.

During the incident the rookie officer

Happened to be wearing a body cam.

(If you're not wondering whether more cops

Ought to be wearing them, well, I am.)

Anyway, Kidder refused to shoot

Yes, that's exemplary behavior, all right.

I wonder: would the officer have shown

Restraint if the suspect hadn't been white?

(4-23-15) By Bob B

Deadly Mistake?

A Tulsa volunteer sheriff--

Robert Bates is his name--

Who happens to be seventy-three,

Has a claim to fame:

As part of a weapons sting

Of an illegal handgun sale

Involving someone named Eric Harris,

Who happened to be a black male.

The police, pursuing Harris,

Brought him to the ground.

"Taser! Taser!" cried Deputy Bates.

And then there was a sound:

POW! A single bullet

Hit Harris in the back,

Fatally killing the unarmed man.

(Did I say he was black?)

"Oh, I shot him," said Bates,

Holding his gun in his hand--

One that's a common policeman's firearm

Of a Smith and Wesson brand.

According to Deputy Bates

He mistook in the scuffle

His Smith and Wesson for his Taser!

That's caused quite a kerfuffle.

Bates--an insurance company

CEO by day--

Likes to play cop when he has time off.

An example of "pay to play"?

And how much training--one wonders--

When all is said and done,

Should it take for a cop to distinguish

His Taser from his gun?

(4-19-15) By Bob B

The Last Days of the Buddha (Based on the Mahāparinibbāna Sutta)

In Rājagaha the Well-Farer lectured

On wisdom, concentration, morality…

The monks listened, devoutly, calmly,

To the message replete with practicality.

On to Ambaliṭṭikā they journeyed,

To Nālandā and Pāṭaligāma as well.

The Buddha continued to spread the Dhamma--

Or teachings--at which he was known to excel.

After passing over the Ganges,

To Koṭigāma they made their way.

The Buddha repeated the Four Noble Truths

That still guide many people today.

At Nādikā the Teacher referred to the Mirror

Of Dhamma and said to always begin

By looking first at yourself to discover

The truth that lies deep within.

On to Vesālī the ascetics wandered.

Where their Master continued to share

The power and value of mindful living--

The importance of being clearly aware.

During the rains the Awakened One rested

In Beluva, where he postponed his trek.

While staying there he grew ill, but he knew

It was NOT his time, so he kept it in check.

"Live as islands," he said to Ānanda,

"With truth as a refuge. And grasp not, for I

Have always told you that all things dear to us--

Whatever is born--eventually will die."

After the rains, the group traveled

To the Great Forest--to the Gabled Hall,

And the Buddha repeated the Eightfold Path--

A message of wisdom pertaining to all.

Bhoganagara was their next stop,

And then to Pāvā the wayfarers did go.

Their host, Cunda, served "pig's delight."

The Buddha grew ill. Why? We don't know.

Despite his illness, the Buddha continued

To Kusinārā and lay down to rest.

Music sounded and flowers fell

From the sky to honor the One-Who-Is-Blessed.

"The Dhamma will now be your teacher.

Strive on untiringly. My time has passed."

After entering deep concentration

The Great One died. Those words were his last.

Thunder sounded and the ground shook--

As it does when any great teacher "goes to sleep."

The Buddha is Dhamma; the Dhamma is the Buddha.

Because of that there's no reason to weep.

The compassionate Buddha's Teachings have spread

For over two thousand five hundred years.

His Message of living in wisdom and compassion

And loving mindfulness perseveres.

(4-18-15) By Bob B

Don't Do It!

Don't sell untaxed cigarettes.

No, no, that's too risky.

Don't get caught in public with

A brown bag hiding whiskey.

Don't run from a cop or get

A bullet from behind.

Wearing a hoodie in public should not

Ever cross your mind.

Don't drive with a taillight out;

You'll be asking for it.

If a cop yells, "Put your hands up!"

Please do not ignore it.

Don't yell at policemen if you're

Living on skid row.

Don't behave in ways that might

Upset the status quo.

Do not be in the wrong location

At the wrong time.

Don't do anything that cops

Might take for a crime.

Don't stand around with groups of friends;

That wouldn't be judicious.

Don't wear loose, baggy clothes

To avoid looking suspicious.

Don't break down late at night

And knock on doors in need.

Do not drive your car in town

If you're carrying weed.

Since the police most likely will not

Cut you any slack,

Don't do ANY of the above,

ESPECIALLY if you're black.

(4-11-15) By Bob B

Past Predictions; Present Realities*

One hundred forty-two years ago--

Back in 1873--

Observing trends, editorialists shared

The scary future that they could foresee.

"Individual enterprise will accomplish everything"

Became a popular maxim of the day,

Which meant that the system conceived by our original

Statesmen was something becoming passé.

As leaders merely became office-holders,

The situation was looking bleaker;

As "giant enterprises" grew much stronger,

The efficiency of our government grew much weaker.

The critics felt that our rulers would become

Far too inefficient to restrain

The aggressive power of the corporations

And the rights of the American people would wane.

In American society the corporations

Would become the wealthy, privileged "class,"

And a "feudal" system exacting service

Would consequently come to pass.

This "disguised warfare" with the American government

Way back then was causing anxiety,

As wealth and power worked against

The wishes and interests of American society.

Things have really not changed much, have they?

While corporations keep growing stronger,

We and our politicians are pawns

In a game we should NOT want to play any longer.

(4-10-15) By Bob B

*Based on a May 1873 editorial in THE NATION

The Profile of a Climate Change Denier

Climate change deniers,

Or "skeptics," a term preferred

By some--but really it's all

Semantics: it's just a word--

Possess very strong feelings

About the subject, which

From their point of view

Possesses many a glitch.

To start with there are words

They don't want to hear.

Words like "global warming"

Instill inordinate fear

In their paranoid brains;

And "global temperatures rising"

Also makes them shudder--

For reasons not surprising.

They don't want to hear

You mention "greenhouse gasses."

That's a conspiracy theory

To trick the gullible masses.

When talking climate change,

They clearly get their strokes

By claiming there's no basis

And that it's all a hoax.

They say if CO2

Levels are increasing,

That's just Earth's gasses

That nature is releasing.

Humans have very little

To do with the matter.

And talk of sea levels rising

Is just alarmist chatter.

Unless one hundred percent

Of scientists all concur,

They'll continue to be

A climate change saboteur;

For ninety-seven percent

Of experts aren't enough,

When there are a few crackpots

To justify a rebuff.

Questionable news sources

Constantly on the air

Manipulate propaganda

With journalistic flair.

You'd think the deniers would find

The info truly obscene

That the Kochs, coal, and big oil

Fund the denial machine.

If you bring up "glaciers,"

Deniers say it's bunk

To say that they're disappearing.

They'll say they've merely…shrunk.

Deniers love cherry-picking

And crafty "logical" fallacies,

Both of which don't stand up

To critical analyses.

Why is it they can't give

The facts a careful look?

Why is their major concern

The corporate pocket book?

They need to learn that no one

Is out to get or deceive them--

That certain things can be true

Whether or not they believe them.

-by Bob B (4-9-15; 2-12-18)

Hatemongers

The loathsome founder of the Westboro Baptist Church

For over a year now has been pushing up daisies.

You’d think that the church might have lost some of its vitriol.

But alas, the organization is still full of crazies.

The new target: the funeral of Reverend Schuller,

Who founded the Crystal Cathedral in southern Cal.

Try as they might to spread their malicious agenda,

The hateful group won't dampen the family's morale.

The Westboro protesters love to picket funerals.

Their focus always revolves around hatred and sin.

Since Schuller's message was one of love and tolerance,

The renegade group sees the devil therein.

Pity hatemongers who live such miserable lives--

Whose existence centers on anger, ignorance and fear.

They've twisted religion and made an ugly monster

That feeds on beliefs that are heartless, cold, and severe.

(4-8-15) By Bob B

Truth Seeker

Write it down. Make a note.

Add it to your list.

Organize your facts so that

There's nothing you have missed.

Keep track of activities.

Organize your files.

Sift through clutter endlessly.

Maneuver 'round the piles.

Listen to the constant chatter

Occurring in your mind.

Update, upgrade, upload, and upscale

Before you get behind.

Connect all dots, look for answers--

Leave no stone unturned.

If the stress builds up then try

Acting unconcerned.

Be sure to take in everything;

Do not miss a sight.

You notice that your grasp is weakening?

Hold on with all your might.

Buy the latest, smartest, greatest--

Maybe pull some strings….

But wait! Surely life must offer

More than countless things.

Are YOU living or BEING lived?

Only you can know.

Slow down. Breathe. Smile. Don't be

Tossed to and fro.

Why be a slave to busyness

And ultimately curtail

Your freedom by condemning yourself

To your own private jail?

Why pore over volumes of words

For clues that will misguide you

Instead of looking within to see

That truth lies deep inside you?

Why seek answers in so many places

Hour after hour

When life's profound meaning can be

Reflected in a flower?

(4-7-15) By Bob B

Farewell, Peter Cottontail! (Easter Eve, 2015)

I saw Peter Cottontail.

I swear I did. It was he!

He was in a bar last night

And he WASN'T drinking tea!

I'd heard of the Easter Bunny, of course,

But I didn't know he had a name.

Connecting the dots, I realized

That he and Peter were one and the same.

Sitting next to him I said,

"Hey, ol' Pete, ol' buddy, ol' guy---

You've got time to take a break?

How so? Please, tell me why."

"Cut me some slack," the poor guy said.

"You humans have a nasty habit

Of placing incredible expectations

On this weary, forlorn rabbit.

"Hiding billions of eggs, come on!

I'm not omnipotent, as you must know.

This task has been thrust upon me

Since a long time ago.

"What's more, I find it rather disgusting

And NOT in any manner funny

When I see a kid chomping

On a chocolate Easter bunny.

"Furthermore, to pass on baby

Rabbits as an Easter present

Is NOT from MY point of view

A practice I'd call very pleasant.

"And as to candy resembling chicks,

To me it seems so surreptitious

When you're saying, 'Oh, how cute!'

But really thinking, 'How delicious!'

"I think it's time to pass the baton

To another generous benefactor.

I don't care who it is;

Find a willing, starving actor.

"I suggest an Easter squirrel,

An Easter bear, or Easter goose.

With so MUCH on my plate there's no

Time to even reproduce."

I left poor Peter there at the bar

As he switched to drinking brandy.

I hope he can manage this year at least

To pass out all of his eggs and candy.

(4-5-15) By Bob B

Remember the Whistleblowers

Thank goodness for whistleblowers

Who occasionally open our eyes

And point out abuse and corruption

And expose atrocities and lies.

Sometimes to their misfortune,

They have not fared so well--

Losing positions or jobs

For what they dared to tell.

Occasionally whistleblowers

Have gained strong support.

At other times their efforts

Have led to battles in court.

Taking a giant risk,

Some even lost their lives.

Their causes were not in vain

As long as justice survives.

  

Nowadays it seems

They get the third degree

And face years of imprisonment

While the villains run free.

Remember the whistleblowers;

Keep them in your thoughts.

Stop unethical abusers

From calling all the shots.

(4-3-15) By Bob B

The Curse of Spam

Isn't SPAM a pain in the rear?

NOT the canned Spam that you can eat;

I mean the spam in your email mailbox.

It's so annoying and so indiscreet.

"Mark as Spam" sometimes works,

But obnoxious messages still get through.

It seems as though you always have tons

Of unwanted email staring at you.

The types of SPAM have gone through changes

Through the years. But even now

Unwanted emails challenge recipients

Beyond what patience might allow.

Have you seen "Six Months to Skinny"

Or the "One-Pound-a-Day Diet"?

There's always "Hi, you’re going to love this"

Or "Want a good time?" That one's a riot.

What about "Help with Alcohol,"

"Penny Stock Tips," or "Erectile Dysfunction"?

Or "Toenail Fungus"? Yikes! Please spare me.

They send out these messages with no compunction!

Breast augmentation? That I don't want.

Baldness cures? Well, if I let it

Be a problem and needed some snake oil,

I know exactly where to get it.

I often get messages dealing with meds.

Those boring messages always fall flat.

And then there's "Male Enhancement Madness."

No thanks; I will pass on that.

Have you received the message that goes

Something like "Hi, my name is Pam"?

The one that I find really hilarious

Is the one that reads, "This is not spam!"

Lately my SPAM comes more from hackers,

Wanting me to click on a link

So they can infect my computer with malware--

Taking it hostage. Doesn't that stink?

Despite precautions, when checking your email,

You're bound to find SPAM--lying in wait.

I have to say that I much prefer it

Not in my mailbox, but instead on my plate.

(4-1-15) By Bob B