March!

We hear the sounds of approaching thunder

Drowning out the cries and pleas

Of people calling out for freedom--

Urgent calls in times like these!

March!

We hear the words that spit and sputter--

That splatter against mellifluous sounds

Of peace, of hope, of promise, of caring,

Creating verbal battlegrounds.

March!

We see the dark and threatening clouds

Looming above, waiting to rain

On love and reason. The winds of hatred

Equal the force of a hurricane.

March!

We see around the neck of compassion

A cruel, ever-tightening noose,

While the henchmen multiply--

A surge of bigotry on the loose.

March!

We feel in our hearts the longing

For dreams that should be guaranteed

By thoughtful laws and not by decisions

Forged from ignorance, power, and greed.

March!

We feel the sadness, pain, and despair

Of all who are trampled and left behind,

Of all whose rights are being denied,

Of all who are hated and maligned.

March!

We know that we can transcend bias;

When myth prevails, wisdom departs.

We can flourish by wisely removing

The chains of intolerance from our hearts.

March!

We know that we have the potential

To live in a country governed by laws

Embracing all the people here

And freeing us from tyranny's claws.

March!

March to demonstrate solidarity

With others who hear the urgent call.

March together in peace for social

And economic justice for all!

March!

(1-31-17; 1-17-18) By Bob B

The Visit

During a future trip to England,

Trump plans to visit the Queen.

Whether that encounter will happen

Still, however, remains to be seen.

Trump chooses not to see

Prince Charles. Want to know why?

There's an issue about which the two

Do not see eye to eye:

Prince Charles supports the views

Of most of the experts, who agree

That climate change is worthy of being

Discussed over a cup of tea.

Whether Trump could comprehend

Healthy discussion is pure conjecture,

But Trump's team has made it clear

That he won't listen to a lecture.

Trump has said that climate change

Is a hoax created by the Chinese

"To make U.S. manufacturing

Non-competitive." Really? Please!

It isn't common for a president

To be so obtuse and thin-skinned, is it?

I'd love to hear the Queen tell Trump

Where he could stick his visit!

(1-30-17) By Bob B

A Lot Can Happen in a Week

A lot can happen in a week,

Let alone in one whole year.

Many dreams can be shattered;

Many rights can disappear.

Things can all be topsy-turvy.

Foundations of democracy

Can crumble from the constant blows

Of madness and hypocrisy.

In a flash a nation whose

Ideals helped it achieve its dreams

Can lose the threads that held it together

And start to fall apart at the seams.

In an instant, something that we

Took for granted--freedom for all--

Can grieve over its final performance

As it waits for its curtain call.

In a short period of time,

Progress made in human rights

Can find itself desperately

Groping through the darkest of nights.

In a matter of days, a small

Group of people driven by greed,

Thirst for power, and grotesque views

Can choke a nation with frightening speed.

But ALSO in a matter of days,

More people can open their eyes

And read between the lines and see

Scores of manipulating lies.

In this same period of time,

People can dig in their heels and say,

"Together we stand; we refuse

To let our rights be taken away."

(1-29-17) By Bob B

Wipe a Tear from Her Eye

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.

(1-28-17) By Bob B

Thinking Out Loud

Face it: we often think out loud.

But it's not very statesmanlike

When you are a president

To do it when speaking into a mic.

The president's words have repercussions

At home and around the world as well.

Does Trump always mean what he says?

It's sometimes difficult to tell.

To say that Iraq has no sovereignty,

That we should have taken the oil and split,

Is totally irresponsible.

The president seems to care not a whit.

Imagine how the Iraqis feel.

It only confirms what many perceive

To be the reason for our presence

Over there: to gut them and leave.

Imagine the potential harm

Such words can do to Americans there.

Trump, what is going on

Underneath all that hair?

(1-27-17) By Bob B

Silenced Voices°°

For many months people asked,

"With Trump as president, what could go wrong?"

Well, a lot. It's already started,

And it hasn't taken very long.

Gag orders have been imposed

On various agencies, saying "Whoa!"

Not only to our freedom of speech,

But also to our right to know.

Cutting the flow of information

Of agencies such as the EPA°

Is a frightening sign and something

We must address straightaway.

It's ONE thing for Trump not to agree

With an agency's recommendations;

It's ANOTHER thing altogether

To silence the voices of organizations.

To silence agencies meant to protect

Our quality of life? Shame! Shame!

Whose voice will he stifle next?

At which right will he next take aim?

An authoritarian country wants

Its people to live in ignorance and fear

By limiting what people can say,

By limiting what people can hear.

A growing number of angry voices

Will shout the command: "For'd, harch!"

If we care about our rights,

There might have to be another march.

(1-25-17) By Bob B

°Environmental Protection Agency.

The Department of the Interior and

the Department of Agriculture were
also affected.
°°24 hours after the gag order was 
issued, it was rescinded. Pressure 

and public protest work.

It Continues

Trump STILL can't stand the thought

That Clinton won the popular vote.

In efforts to cause a major distraction,

He's keeping the voting fraud rumor afloat.

Clinton received two point eight

Million more votes than he--

Votes from voters physically present

Or votes from those voting absentee.

He says that he has evidence

Of widespread fraud. We can surmise

That he has his "alternative facts"--

A handy euphemism for lies.

It's a preposterous, baseless claim,

A mere BELIEF that he maintains,

Another false conspiracy theory,

An insult to people who use their brains.

Voting fraud is an issue

That Trump loves to keep in his sights.

For him it's a very useful excuse

To go after voting rights.

If there was so much voting fraud,

The chances of which are very slim,

Does Trump ever wonder how many

Fraudulent votes went to him?

The more he whines, the more he harps--

He's even driving Republicans mad!--

The more he loses the smattering

Of credibility that he once had.

(1-24-17) By Bob B

That Explains It

We eat soup with a knife.

We cut steak with a spoon;

The sun shines at night;

The stars come out at noon.

The earth has too few people.

Sugar makes you strong.

Giraffes have short necks;

Elephants' necks are long.

Glaciers are not melting;

Earth is growing cooler.

Thirteen inches make

A simple foot-long ruler.

Don't look at me

As though I'm totally cracked.

Each of the above

Is an alternative fact.  😉

(1-24-17) By Bob B

Mastering the Art of Deception

Do you want to learn to be evasive,

Obnoxious, cynical, and highly abrasive?

I have the perfect teacher for you

To help you blow up an interview:

Kellyanne CONjob is her name.

An expert at the sidestepping game,

She will teach you to twist and turn

Answers to questions with no concern

For facts and truth. What do they matter

When you've got the gift of empty chatter?

She'll show you with great perfection

How to master the art of deflection.

Being sweet is one of her acts.

She loves to refer to "alternative facts"

To prove her points to the unwary.

Veracity is unnecessary.

Lies can provide great vitality

When you live in an alternate reality.

She will teach you to trick and deceive

With countless gimmicks hidden up her sleeve.

Learn how to blame the media when they

Say things you don't want them to say.

Some of her strategies might give offense,

But mainly in an Orwellian sense.

If you maintain a certain hostility

And think, "To hell with credibility!"

You could work for the president as well

Among the White House personnel.

(1-23-17) By Bob B

Sing Out for Freedom!

They marched together; they marched strong,

With flags, signs, and banners waving.

They marched in sun, snow, and rain

To speak out for rights and causes worth saving.

The Women's March on Washington

Became a world phenomenon

Occurring on seven continents.

May the powerful memory live on!

Women, men, and children with

Determination undeterred

Peacefully rallied together,

Letting their mighty voices be heard.

Echoing through the cities' canyons

And filling city parks and squares,

Their voices loudly demanded that leaders

Listen to democracy's heirs.

When people's rights are under attack,

When greed-driven politicians

Bow to Wall Street and corporations,

Ignoring the struggling people's petitions,

The people then must raise their voices

And hope that their peaceful protest starts

A major shift in understanding--

A positive change in lawmakers' hearts.

The protesters clearly spoke:

We must protect democracy

From the threatening ravages

Of plutoc-, corpoc-, or kakistocracy.

They'll march again in 2018.

They'll march to show that it has never

Been more urgent, for now there are

More reasons to march than ever.

Onward, marchers. Don't give up.

You have a voice; let it ring

From east to west, from north to south.

Sing out, people! Sing! Sing!

(1-22-17; 1-13-18) By Bob B

The Ongoing Battle

President Trump's first day

In office wouldn't allay your fears

If you've been worried about what we'll

Be seeing for the next four years.

Press Secretary Spicer,

Who's called upon to do Trump's bidding,

Had one major concern:

Crowd size! I'm not kidding!

Spicer castigated the media,

Saying that they had underreported

The size of Inauguration Day crowds.

The figures, he said, were greatly distorted.

Spicer insisted that Donald Trump's

Inauguration crowds had been

The largest that had ever witnessed

Such an event.* Once again

Trump's insecurities

And hurt ego take front stage.

The media merely reports the facts

And he flies into a rage.

Facts are facts: President Obama's

Numbers were greater. But NO big deal.

Instead of putting out a tweet,

Trump had Spicer deliver his spiel.

The numbers are not that important.

What's important is whether Trump can

Set aside his petty gripes.

Is that beyond the scope of the man?

(1-22-17) By Bob B

*Spicer had said the following: "This was the largest audience ever to witness an inauguration, period, both in person and around the globe." Just awkwardly worded, or intentionally vague?

If Your Birth Sign Is Aquarius...

Championing the highest principles

To which humanity can aspire,

You are the great idealist;

When there's a cause, you're on fire.

You're the "organization" person

Who fights for equal rights and fairness

For all people. You're the one

Who raises other people's awareness.

Your loyalty and fairness both

Bring in a lot of dividends,

For you tend to attract many

Loyal acquaintances and friends.

Being asked to do a task

Is seldom a real problem for you.

But heaven forbid should anyone

Try to tell you what to do.

You despise authoritarian

Demands; you hate pressure as well.

When you're pushed to act against

Your better judgment, rebel.

But when you decide that a cause

Is worthwhile, then you give your all.

When criticized for your decisions,

Instead of budging, you stand tall.

You often find fascination

In things that might be odd or unique.

Your strong likes and dislikes can also

Bring to light your stubborn streak.

You're an independent thinker,

So current trends interest you little.

Because you are so independent,

Some people think you're noncommittal.

Your passion seems to be more directed

At causes, so without a doubt,

In your close relationships,

Your partners have trouble figuring you out.

Loving many people at once

Is so natural for you that

If your partner is insecure,

You often feel called on the mat.

And yet, when you are deeply in love,

Your passion can be inspirational.

People are attracted to you

Since you are so gravitational.

Your unpredictable nature might

Cause you to do the unexpected.

Be aware of the signs when

Your other half is feeling neglected.

A people-oriented person,

You don't care that much about wealth.

Watch out, for nervous disorders

Might adversely affect your health.

Restrictions on your self-expression

Can cause in you a violent reaction.

Working for the common good

Is what gives you satisfaction.

Since people are so important

You aren't always in the mood

To eat a lot; instead you find

That useful knowledge is the best food.

Always ready to change the world,

You are the humanitarian.

Be true to yourself, and you

Will prove that you're a true Aquarian.

(1-21-17) By Bob B

"My Way" (Trump's Inauguration Song)

(Sung to the melody of Frank Sinatra's "My Way")

And so, I'm standing here

To say an oath and pledge allegiance.

Though some will cry and jeer

And accuse me of malfeasance,

The fact that I can stand

Before you now in a tough-guy way

Proves that you can be like me

By doing things my way.

Yes, I've stiffed a few,

But that's my disposition.

That's what you have to do

To carry forth your mission.

I knew what I was doing;

I was acting in a sly way.

Just do what I tell you

And do things my way.

You might not like the things I say

Or what I do, but that's okay.

Celebs like me have it made.

Just don't drop the masquerade.

It's all the same; just play the game

And do things my way.

I've had three wives. So what!

I've just had two divorces.

The news? Don't watch that smut.

I've found better sources.

I didn't get this far

By choosing the just-get-by way.

Since life is dog eat dog

Just do things my way.

You never know who you can screw

Until you shift your point of view.

Remember: screw, before you're screwed.

At times be crass; at times be lewd.

Make up the rules; treat them like fools

By doing things my way.

Yes, do things my way.

(1-19-17) By Bob B

I Dreamed There Was an UN-inauguration

I dreamed there was an UNinauguration.
Peeking through the clouds, the frowning sun
Cast its rays upon the crowds below,
Perplexing and confounding everyone.

Donald Trump walked onto the platform,
Adjusting with his hands his golden thatch.
In the bleachers sat his buddy Putin,
Wily smiling, the two a perfect match.

The National Mall was split right down the middle.
Less than half of the crowd was loudly cheering.
All the rest were unmistakably
More enthusiastic in their jeering.

All of a sudden, the dark clouds parted.
A pillar of light descended from above.
Everyone could see that spiraling downward
Was the image of an ivory dove.

The dove transformed into a real person.
There stood Hillary Clinton on the stage!
Trump, whose eyes were shooting darts of fire,
Flew into his usual Trumpish rage.

A thunderous voice shook the Capitol steps.
The startled people jumped when they heard "STOP!"
Everybody waited in suspense,
Wondering when the ball was going to drop.

“This nonsense can't go on!” thundered the voice.
“A slight change—call it a correction—
Must fix improprieties that hurt
The integrity of your last election.”

Angelic voices filled the wintry air
As shouts of anger turned to happy cheers.
Trump and friends sauntered off the platform.
Bitterly they wiped away their tears.

Kellyanne Conway, puffed up with hot air,
Swirled away like a deflating balloon.
General Flynn got down on all fours
And turned into a blabbering baboon.

Steve Bannon also underwent
A sudden transformation, quite befitting:
He turned into a snake and slithered away
Past the seat where Eric Trump was sitting.

Putin’s face showed great disappointment.
The crafty leader couldn't understand
How his plans had backfired. He joined Trump.
They walked off together, hand in hand.

A blissful light enveloped everybody.
That was when I woke up from my dream
And had to face what was going to be
A harsh reality: a Trump regime.

(1-19-17) By Bob B

Farewell to the Ringling Bros. - 2017

The Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey

Circus will close its doors in May.

The Greatest Show on Earth has lost

Its flashy allure of yesterday.

The death-defying acrobats

Will have to seek other employment.

Exotic animal acts no longer

Are a source of great enjoyment.

The circus will fold up its tent for good.

But don't be sad; do not frown.

On January 20

A new circus is coming to town.

(1-16-17) By Bob B

Something's Fishy

What does Russia have on Trump?

A little? A lot? Nothing? Who knows?

Nevertheless, there are more questions

Than we can count on our fingers and toes.

Trump seems to have greater regard

For Putin--which is really bizarre--

Than he does for people here,

Which goes to show how crazy things are.

He thinks that he can allay

Our fears by sending out tweet after tweet.

Instead of making the man look stronger,

His messages make him look more effete.

We'll probably never know all the answers.

We'll never know the whys and wherefores,

The truth to faulty explanations

Behind the empty becauses and therefores.

We do know that something is fishy.

Trump's overreactions as such

Are revealing, to say the least.

Methinks he doth protest too much.

(1-14-16) By Bob B

Getting Suckered

During the election campaign, Trump

Railed against Cruz and Clinton for

Their connections to Goldman Sachs--

Something we were supposed to abhor.

This week Donald Trump announced

His FIFTH high-profile hire

From Goldman Sachs to join his team.

Hypocrites are hard to admire.

If Trump's Goldman Sachs complaints

About the others helped you decide

To vote for him, well, sucker,

You were taken for a ride.

(1-13-17) By Bob B

Fake News

Trump is upset about what he calls

Fake news being spread--

News which has the soon-to-be

President seeing red.

An unverified dossier

Claims that Russia has power over him.

Fake news or not, it still appears

That Trump's memory is growing dim.

For years he peddled a birther myth!

So, Mr. Trump, please let us put

A question to you: How does it feel

To have the shoe on the other foot?

(1-11-17) By Bob B

A Three-part Tweet!

Trump has found another target.

This time it's Meryl Streep.

Once again he's demonstrated

How his thirst for vengeance runs deep.

He didn't like a comment that she

Had made at the Golden Globes, and so

He blasted her with a series of tweets--

Three tweets all in a row.

Streep had referred to a disabled news

Reporter whom Trump had imitated.

Trump lashed back, saying the award-

Winning actress was "over-rated."

A mature and intelligent man

Would move on and do what it takes

To model decent behavior, but that

Is difficult for a man with no brakes.

Poor Trump is still stuck

In the na-na-na-na-na-stage,

Which makes him appear childish and is

Unbecoming for someone his age.

(1-10-17) By Bob B

Odd Priorities

Ex-KGB agent

Vladimir Putin knows a great deal

About spying and gathering info

And making a person talk--or squeal.

The FBI, CIA,

And NSA have found a connection

Between Putin and a campaign

To alter the results of our election.

To denigrate Hillary Clinton

Was one of the hackers' primary goals.

By hacking into email accounts

And--with the help of Internet trolls--

Amplifying false reports,

Putin's hackers aimed to block

Clinton's chances of being president.

That they did it is no shock.

At altering Russia's election results,

Putin's expertise is shining.

Anyone who criticizes

The tyrant is worth undermining.

Consequently, Clinton became

The target of Putin's wrath.

A little manipulation and we

Are now seeing the aftermath.

Trump, instead of feeling outrage,

Was really more concerned about who's

Responsible for having leaked

Some of the info to NBC News!

The fact that Russia tampered with

Our election doesn't faze him.

What interests him is vengeance against

Anyone who doesn't praise him.

(1-7-16) By Bob B

How Could There Be Conflicts of Interest?

"Dear Mr. Trump…"

"We in Dubai are looking forward

To staying at your luxury hotel.

While there we'd like to discuss some options

And your Dubai golf course as well…."

"We talent bookers have found performers

For your big event, based on good tips.

By the way, thank you for

Your offers of ambassadorships…."

"We Kuwaitis feel the need

To move our celebration to

The Trump International Hotel

From Georgetown. Yes, we love the view…."

"We Russians admire your pick

For Secretary of State. Hurrah!

By the way, we're getting tired

Of all the sanctions blah, blah, blah…."

"We Indonesians feel your support

Of business leaders in this country should

Benefit all. Meanwhile your Bali

Hotel plans are looking good…."

"OUR DECISIONS SHOULD NOT CAUSE

A VIRULENT, DAMNING MEDIA STORM,

FOR WE SEE NO CONFLICT OF INTEREST

IN ANY WAY, SHAPE, OR FORM…."

(1-4-17) By Bob B

Heartfelt Acrimony

Trump and his infamous tweets.

Boy is he on a roll!

Have leaders ever had such

A lack of impulse control?

He couldn't tweet just a simple

New Year's greeting to all.

In typical Trumpian fashion

He had to have the gall

To also address his "enemies"--

All of the people who

"Lost so badly" and

"Don't know what to do."

His rambling tweets show

How much he lacks the potential

For rising to the occasion

And being presidential.

They also demonstrate

A definite want of lucidity.

Might his real enemy

Be his own stupidity?

(1-2-17) By Bob B

My New Year's Resolution

New Year's resolutions

Normally aren't worth making,

Since they tend to be

Something we're usually breaking.

I've decided Whoa!

To self-deprivation

And unnecessary

Guilt and indignation.

My resolution this year

Is to daily devour

As many sweets as possible.

(Preferably on the hour.)

The ideal situation

Would be for me to sate

My appetite for confections

Without gaining weight.

All those pastries and donuts

Might not be so cheap.

But THIS is a resolution

That shouldn't be hard to keep.

(1-1-17) By Bob B