The Fate of John Billington

Some folks are descendants

Of Hamilton or Grant.

They can proudly boast,

While there are some who can't.

Well, I have the honor--

You will plainly see

That "honor" here is used

Quite sarcastically--

Of being a descendant

Of one with dubious fame.

In case you wonder, John

Billington was his name.

Ten years after his

Arrival in the year

1620, he

Was executed here.

Hey, Johnny!

Whaddya say?

Why’d you have to

Die that way?

You had to push

The envelope

To end up hanging

From a rope.

The Mayflower was

His means of transportation.

Fleeing debt, he hoped

To rise above his station.

His wife and two young sons

Joined him on the trip.

One mischievous son

Almost blew up the ship.

His son was thinking, "Hey,

This is loads of fun!"

While he played around

With his father's gun.

Stupidly, he put

The whole ship in peril

When he fired a shot

Near a gunpowder barrel.

John Billington was

Always in a jam.

About propriety

He didn't give a damn.

I guess he thought he was

A wise and clever chap.

But he should have known

When to shut his trap.

Hey, Johnny!

Whaddya say?

Why’d you have to

Die that way?

You had to push

The envelope

To end up hanging

From a rope.

A quarrel with a neighbor,

John Newcomen, led

John Billington to

Completely lose his head.

Billington shot Newcomen,

Who shortly thereafter died.

Two juries called it

An act of homicide.

There was no escaping

Punishment this time.

Billington was forced

To pay for his crime.

Fortunately, even

Though this story's grim,

I can proudly say

I don't take after him!

Hey, Johnny!

Whaddya say?

Why’d you have to

Die that way?

You had to push

The envelope

To end up hanging

From a rope.

Hanging from a rope!

-by Bob B (6-29-29)

Near the Bank of the Rio Grande

Oscar Martínez and Angie Valeria,

A father and daughter from El Salvador,

Came to our border seeking asylum.

Their voices will not be heard anymore

Turned away at the border the father,

Mother, and daughter left in despair.

Desperation makes us take risks

Whenever our future is up in the air.

The Rio Grande near Matamoros

Proved not to be the family's friend.

Swept away in the rushing current,

Father and daughter both met their end.

Farewell to Oscar and Angie Valeria.

Let's hope that their deaths will not be in vain.

Urgency should call us to action:

Our treatment of others should be more humane.

Helpless, the frantic mother stood watching,

Feeling the pain that life can deliver.

The bodies of her two loved ones were found

In the murky waters near the bank of the river.

Who's passing blame or pointing a finger?

Who's going to turn a blind eye to sorrow?

How many more asylum seekers

Will lose their lives today or tomorrow?

Farewell to Oscar and Angie Valeria.

Let's hope that their deaths will not be in vain.

Urgency should call us to action:

Our treatment of others should be more humane.

-by Bob B (6-27-19)

Welcome to America from the DHS

Greetings from us at Homeland Security.

We hope you had a pleasant journey.

But keep in mind there's no guarantee

That you won't exit on a gurney.

You should love our border camps,

Which are still progressing in stages.

We have “subdivided rooms.”

(We don't like to call them cages.)

We strive to stifle criticism.

Please ignore our critics' lore.

Doesn't everybody love

To camp out on a cold, hard floor?

We provide you with a blanket.

What? One is not enough?

Crowded rooms should keep you warm.

Exposure to germs will make you tough!

Lest you feel our detention centers

Are too uncomfortable or stark,

We leave the lights on for twenty-four hours

Daily in case you're afraid of the dark.

What? You say you need a doctor?

Come on, beggars can't be choosers.

Toothbrushes? Toothpaste? Soap?

Those are just for wimps or losers.

We all want your stay to be

Just as pleasant as we can make it.

True, some have died, but they’re

The weaker ones who cannot take it.

If your kids were taken away,

We don't mean to disrespect you,

But since only God knows where they are,

Then we'll let God reconnect you.

Locking kids in windowless

Warehouses in our recollection

Is a way to offer the kids

Security and protection.

If perhaps you’re seeking asylum,

One little thing might give you pause:

The president is working on

Ways to change asylum laws.

We know the whole idea of camps

Polarizes, or causes a schism.

In figuring out what to call them,

We prefer the euphemism.

So, enjoy your stay until

The powers that be decide your fate.

If you’re lucky, you’ll get a shower

During your long, protracted wait.

-by Bob B (6-24-19)

Opposing Views

(An experiment, this poem can be sung to the tune of "America" from West Side Story.)

(Fans)

Donald Trump, oh,

You fearless leader.

Of praise you are so deserving.

Never liking what critics say…

And always hoping they'll go away.

(Critics)

Donald Trump, oh,

You nasty leader--

One who’s so blind and self-serving.

Only caring about the rich.

Your biggest concerns: your sales pitch,

And the people who snitch,

And the money you earn,

And the people you burn….

When will they ever learn

How you're destroying this nation?

And still you expect admiration!

(Fans)

We all agree we like Donald Trump.

We want to be more like Donald Trump.

Our cup of tea: it is Donald Trump.

(Critics)

Lying is key when you're Donald Trump.

(Fans)

We want to visit his tower.

(Critics)

Watch him accumulate power!

(Fans)

We think he rules us with finesse.

(Critics)

Though he's an autocrat, too. Yes?

(Fans)

Drilling off shore: that's with Donald Trump.

He'll never bore you--not Donald Trump.

Job growth will soar with our Donald Trump.

(Critics)

Tariffs galore with your Donald Trump!

(Fans)

We're going to vote for him next year!

(Critics)

It's hard to believe you are sincere.

(Fans)

The man is great; don't forget it.

(Critics)

Sorry, you're going to regret it.

Immigrants fear Mr. Donald Trump.

They won't go near Mr. Donald Trump.

One thing is clear about Donald Trump:

A racketeer he is--Donald Trump!

(Fans)

He says we all should do all right.

(Critics)

If you are rich and if you’re white!

(Fans)

Four more years will be a blessing.

(Critics)

Four more years would be distressing!

(Fans)

Well, don't you know that with Donald Trump

Stocks will all grow, yes, with Donald Trump?

You'll make more dough, yes, with Donald Trump.

(Critics)

With quid pro quo, yes, with Donald Trump.

(Fans)

If he wins, we're gonna be glad.

(Critics)

If he wins, we’re gonna be sad.

(Fans)

Certainly, no one can beat him.

(Critics)

Anyone, you must defeat him!

(All)

La la la la la la la…la…la…

La la la la la la la…la…la…

La la la la la la la…la…la…

La la la la la la la…¡Olé!

-by Bob B (6-19-19)

Good-bye, Sarah, Good-bye!

(Can be sung to the tune of the 1922 song "Toot, Toot, Tootsie, Good-bye")

Good-bye, Sarah,° good-bye!

Good-bye, Sarah. Nice try.

The press won't have to fight you.

We hope you learned that lying will come back to bite you.

Maybe, Sarah, you'll see

Most will have to agree:

It can be grim out on a limb

When Donald Trump expects you to keep lying for him.

Good-bye, Sarah. Say why.

Good-bye, Sarah, good-bye!

Good-bye, Sarah, good-bye!

Good-bye, Sarah. Don’t sigh.

No more briefings start the day.

But when you led them, they were useless anyway.

When you're gone will you know

How low you had to go?

Hey, what the hell:

Trump thinks you're swell.

Those "countless FBI agents" will bid you farewell.

Sarah, keep a dry eye.

Good-bye, Sarah, good-bye!

-by Bob B (6-14-19)

°Sarah Huckabee Sanders, press secretary to Donald Trump

Orlando: The Third Anniversary

On a night three years ago this week

Forty-nine people died

In a mass shooting that once again

Left the country horrified.

The Pulse nightclub, Orlando, Florida,

A place of nighttime revelry,

Became the target where a hater

Carried out his shooting spree.

Maybe among the victims' names

Are none that you can now recall.

Nevertheless, the incident

Is one that affects us all.

It's sad when conditions are such

That mass shootings become the norm.

It's equally sad when lawmakers

Shy away from gun-law reform.

And sad, too, it is when hate-filled

Bigots boldly advocate

That the deaths of forty-nine clubbers

Should be a cause to celebrate!

Shame on them who take religion

And shape it into deadly words

That they sling at innocent victims

While stirring up hatred among their herds.

The path to truth is a winding path;

It's easy to stumble, easy to stray.

Some start out with good intentions

But then get lost along the way.

So many anniversaries

Of mass shootings to recognize!

Will the light break through the clouds

Of ignorance? We can only surmise.

-by Bob B (6-14-19)

Remembering the victims of the Pulse nightclub shooting:

Stanley Almodovar III, 23

Amanda Alvear, 25

Oscar A. Aracena-Montero, 26

Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33

Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21

Martin Benitez Torres, 33

Antonio D. Brown, 30

Darryl R. Burt II, 29

Jonathan A. Camuy Vega, 24

Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28

Simon A. Carrillo Fernandez, 31

Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25

Luis D. Conde, 39

Cory J. Connell, 21

Tevin E. Crosby, 25

Franky J. Dejesus Velazquez, 50

Deonka D. Drayton, 32

Mercedez M. Flores, 26

Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22

Juan R. Guerrero, 22

Paul T. Henry, 41

Frank Hernandez, 27

Miguel A. Honorato, 30

Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40

Jason B. Josaphat, 19

Eddie J. Justice, 30

Anthony L. Laureano Disla, 25

Christopher A. Leinonen, 32

Brenda L. Marquez McCool, 49

Jean C. Mendez Perez, 35

Akyra Monet Murray, 18

Kimberly Morris, 37

Jean C. Nieves Rodriguez, 27

Luis O. Ocasio-Capo, 20

Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25

Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36

Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32

Enrique L. Rios Jr., 25

Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37

Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24

Christopher J. Sanfeliz, 24

Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35

Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25

Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34

Shane E. Tomlinson, 33

Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25

Luis S. Vielma, 22

Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37

Jerald A. Wright, 31

Bringing It On

There on TV, in plain view,

Right before our very eyes--

Although what the president said

Was shocking, it was not a surprise.

Pulling no punches, he admitted

That he would not keep a distance

From foreign meddling in our elections--

That he would accept Russian assistance.

He did it before, he'll do it again.

Whose interests is he protecting

When he accepts outside help--

Something he should be rejecting?

Instead of protecting democracy,

He is basically doubling back

By letting our whole election system

Be undermined by an outside attack.

After observing the president's actions

During the past view years, I guess

The fact that we're not shocked shows that

We wouldn't expect anything less.

Some people call it treasonous.

Trump calls it another name:

"Oppo research." Winning to him

Justifies it. It's just a game.

Is there a breaking point for congressional

Republicans? Hard to tell.

Why don't we just give the Russians our ballots

And let them vote for us as well?

-by Bob B (6-13-19)

Our Country...

(Can be sung to the tune of "My Country, 'Tis of Thee")

This country once was grand.

It's hard to understand

What has gone wrong.

Without change, rest assured,

Rights that were once secured

Will all become obscured.

Hear this sad song!

Our country nationwide

Was once more unified;

Now it is split.

Our leader--not so smart--

Who lacks a caring heart

Is tearing us apart,

Yes, bit by bit.

When presidents defy

Rule of law, tell me why

People don't act.

Obstructing justice should

Prove they're up to no good.

Let this be understood:

They must be sacked.

When leaders lie we must

Find others whom we trust

To tell the truth.

Climate change ought to be

A huge priority,

If not for you and me,

Then for our youth.

If people are too dense

And have no commonsense

Can we survive?

May eyes be opened so

More people here can know

What we must do to grow.

Let wisdom thrive!

-by Bob B (6-12-19)

The USS John S. McCain

The president gazed out the White House window.

Squinting to see through the mist and rain,

He gasped as he made out the faint outline

Of the USS John S. McCain.

His pallid face froze in a grimace.

Turning, he said, “That just can’t be.

This has to be an apparition.

How could the ship be here in D.C.?”

Consulting his television set,

He let out a scream of utter disdain.

The image was on his TV screen:

The USS John S. McCain.

Dashing around the Oval Office

Like a madman, completely deranged,

He called his advisers, blathering madly,

"The name of that ship has to be changed!"

Off to Asia the president flew.

As he took in the view from his plane,

Down below him his eyes fell upon

The USS John S. McCain.

"Why…why…must he torment me?"

He asked his wife in a fit of despair.

He bit his lip with so much force,

The blood gushed out, causing a scare.

"Give me a towel!" he yelled. He held it

Up to his lip, which was throbbing in pain.

Moments later the blood left an image:

The USS John S. McCain.

Members of the president's team

Rushed to find places to hide.

Contradicting the angry boss

Would be political suicide.

The president, loving to bully others,

Finds his impulses hard to restrain.

May he be haunted forever and ever

By the USS John S. McCain.

-by Bob B (6-10-19)

Flat Earth Society

I met a guy the other day,

And this is what he had to say--

And yes, he says he is for real--

Despite the leaps of science, he

Says that he must disagree

For he has something sounder to reveal:

"Come join our Flat Earth Society.

Don't fear notoriety.

Come on: there's no degree of risk.

Just be a flat-Earther AND

Help the world to understand

That Earth is not a globe, it is a disc."

Astounded, I asked, "How can I

Accept your theory? Tell me why,

When that was disproved so long ago."

He said that science isn't true;

Scientists don't have a clue.

He knows because the Bible told him so.

I asked how he can prove his case.

Photos shot from outer space

Show that Earth is round instead of flat.

"Conspiracy, for goodness' sake!"

He said, "Those photos all are fake.

Flat Earth News is really where it's at."

He said, "You see: we allege

Antarctica is on the edge;

The Arctic is the center our plate.

Scientists all severely

Hurt us with their theories clearly.

Flat Earth truths are what we propagate."

Obviously, it makes no sense

When certain people are that dense

To try to reason with their addled brain.

As scary as it is, I guess

I have to say I must confess

It's humorous to hear their strange refrain:

"Come join our Flat Earth Society.

Don't fear notoriety.

Come on: there's no degree of risk.

Just be a flat-Earther AND

Help the world to understand

That Earth is not a globe, it is a disc."

-Bob B (6-8-19)

Food Doesn't Grow Here Anymore*

In the western highlands of Guatemala

Living conditions are turning sour

As people face adversity,

Day by day, hour by hour.

Climate change is taking a toll

On the lives of many, especially the poor.

When asked why they're fleeing, they say,

"Food doesn't grow here anymore."

The growth of many of their children is stunted;

Children are dying of malnutrition.

The parents want what all people want

Who find themselves in their position:

They want to leave, to find a place

Where their children can survive--

Where life is not an overwhelming

Challenge of trying to stay alive.

They know the journey north is hard;

Some have died along the way.

What are their options? To take a chance?

One thing's certain: they die if they stay.

Our government threatens to cut off aid

Which would only make matters worse.

That will not stop desperate people

From fleeing; it will do the reverse.

Hear the cries from Guatemala.

Don't close your eyes or cover your ears.

A ghostly lament will echo along

The banks of a dried up river of tears.

-by Bob B (6-7-19)

*Based on a report by Nicholas Kristof

Autocrats

Autocrats clearly despise

Congressional oversight,

For autocrats love control.

They always must pretend they're right.

Autocrats despise the truth.

If asked about it, they hem and haw.

They want to avoid our scrutiny,

Thinking they're above the law.

Autocrats have no problem

Obstructing justice. How they glower

At anyone who tries to prevent

Them from gaining total power!

Autocrats couldn't care less

Whether the people raise objections

As to how they rose to the top.

Forget the legitimacy of elections!

Autocrats stifle voices.

Freedom of speech? What is that?

Controlling what the people hear

Is the goal of the autocrat.

Autocrats have their fans

Who are quick to scoff and demean

Those who aren't brainwashed by

The huge propaganda machine.

Autocrats trample on rights.

Freedoms are on the chopping block

While the autocrats distract

The people with sanctimonious talk.

Autocrats can garner votes,

Despite their having no sense of shame.

If people elect autocrats,

They have only themselves to blame.

-by Bob B (6-5-19)