Francisco

Meet Francisco, an 18-year-old,

Born right here in the good ol' U.S.

Police held him in custody

For twenty-six days nevertheless.

Detention centers are certainly not

Five-star hotels in any form.

Frigid and crowded cages or rooms

And inhumane treatment are more the norm.

Francisco had his social security

Card and ID in order to prove

That he was really a U.S. citizen.

Border police still made their move.

Although someone spends many years

Elsewhere, our legal apparatus

Has to know that doing that

Doesn't change one's citizenship status.

They claimed that Francisco's identification

Information all was fake.

Of course, they have to find excuses

To cover up their big mistake.

Such "mistakes" are fairly common

When we have a president who

Says that what is true is false;

What is false, he claims is true.

Most people see through his dangerous lies,

But there are many who want to believe

Every word he says that offers

Support to ideas to which they cleave.

Stop atrocities at our border!

Stop treating people in ways

That NO human being should be treated!

Stop the processing delays!

Stop family separation

And caging asylum seekers as well,

As though to get even with them,

Their lives are made a living hell!

How many more "Franciscos" are there

Who don't even make the news?

Whom will the president now attack?

Who is next on his list to abuse?

-by Bob B (7-28-19)

Moscow Mitch

They say in Washington, D.C.

That few are hated as much as he.

Of course, that all depends on whom you ask.

If you ask him, he contends

He's not there to make more friends.

Pushing his agenda is his task.

Yep, the man has found his niche--

The man known as Moscow Mitch.

His biggest friend in D.C. now

Is Donald Trump. Notice how

The two men are connected at the hip.

They will sacrifice--insane!--

Democracy for political gain

With their vile, disgusting partnership.

Yep, the man has found his niche--

The man known as Moscow Mitch.

He truly doesn't dignify

The Senate, where bills go to die.

He prefers to make up his own rules.

Obviously, Mitch's goal

Is only to maintain control

And stack the federal courts with far-right fools.

Yep, the man has found his niche--

The man known as Moscow Mitch.

We know that Russians interfered

In our elections, but what's weird

Is Mitch McConnell doesn't seem to care.

Since Russians helped Trump win before,

He could use their help once more.

Without their help he wouldn't have a prayer.

Yep, the man has found his niche--

The man known as Moscow Mitch.

Just look at his expressionless mug.

(People say he resembles a slug--

A slug with an empty, vapid frown.)

If people really knew what's good,

And if they cared at all they would

Find a candidate to bring him down.

Yep, the man who found his niche--

The man known as Moscow Mitch.

-by Bob B (7-27-19)

The Lorelei

She sits on the cliff high above us

And combs her soft flaxen hair.

Too many heed not the warnings

That urge us all to beware.

Her golden demeanor’s bewitching,

Her true intentions disguised.

Her radiance dazzles the viewer.

Onlookers stare, mesmerized.

Mellifluous sounds fill the canyons

And fill the heart with desire.

The Lorelei leaves you defenseless;

Nothing can put out the fire.

Vigilance dissipates quickly.

The sailor far too late learns

That carelessness leads to disaster.

The river has dangerous turns.

Sailors, beware of distractions.

Watch out for dangers that loom.

Don't be beguiled by enticements

That beckon you to your doom.

-by Bob B (7-26-19)

A Dream Come True

I dreamed the day finally arrived

When ALL people realized

And understood why Donald Trump

Deserved to be so despised.

People everywhere saw through

His empty words, his lies, his act,

His bigoted, odious promises,

His thought process so inexact.

No one acknowledged his asinine tweets,

Or listened to his divisive rants.

No one went to his vacuous rallies

And started shouting racist chants.

No one let him- or herself

Be duped by the man's endless stream

Of worthless gibberish and hateful talk

That once made non-supporters scream.

Our country had respect again

From countries worthy of respect.

Foreign relations were also mended

After having suffered neglect.

No longer did we admire

Autocrats and dictators.

We looked up to our allies and praised

Diplomatic negotiators.

The voices of white supremacy

Were drowned by voices of love and inclusion.

Voting rights would be protected.

That became a foregone conclusion.

Russia and other countries couldn't

Interfere with our elections.

All people living in

The U.S. had equal protections.

Religious freedom meant that people

Could practice beliefs across the nation

And NOT use religion as

A handy excuse for discrimination.

Clean air and clean water

Became a focus, AND what's more,

Climate change wasn't considered

A silly hoax that we should ignore.

Children were not separated

From parents at our border gate.

People weren't dehumanized

And made to feel second rate.

The taxation system was fair

And benefited not only the wealthy.

Everyone had health insurance

With emphasis on being healthy.

To presidential abuse of power

Legislators said farewell.

And egomaniacal Donald Trump

Languished in a prison cell.

What a dream--what a vision--

Where joyous hopes began anew!

If only it could come to fruition!

It would be a dream come true.

-by Bob B (7-19-19)

Sofi's Choice

Down on our southern border a family

Has found itself in a scary position.

Three kids have a decision to make--

The youngest with a heart condition:

Will they stay here with their mom

While she pleads their asylum case

Or leave the country with Dad? What

A horrible choice for a kid to face!

The youngest--Sofi--just three-years old--

Clutched onto her mother but had

A crying fit when the agents

Separated them from their dad.

Forced to leave Honduras because

Of death threats, the family came

Here seeking asylum and got

Caught up in a political game.

Apparently, certain border agents

And heartless lawmakers entertain

The notion that it's quite all right

To be cruel and inhumane.

Family separation continues.

Wouldn't it be hard to rejoice

If YOU came here seeking refuge

And had to make Sofi's choice?

-by Bob B (7-18-19)

A Prime Example of a Modern Racist President

(This poem can be sung to the tune of Gilbert and Sullivan's song "I Am the Very Model of a Modern Major-General.")

(Critic)

He is a prime example of a modern racist president.

What a shame he has to be the current White House resident.

He lacks so much in what it takes to truly be an honest man.

What is so amazing is how anyone can be a fan.

He knows how to maximize racial hatred. What a shame!

He wonders why he's criticized; he only has himself to blame.

Watch his motivations in the policies he puts in place.

To him race-baiting is the way to strongly galvanize his base.

(Chorus)

To him race-baiting is the way to strongly galvanize his base.

To him race-baiting is the way to strongly galvanize his base.

To him race-baiting is the way to strongly galvanize his base, his base!

(Critic)

He knows how to stir the pot, for racists all give him a nod.

He has many people fooled to think that he's a man of God.

What a shame he has to be the current White House resident,

For he's a prime example of a modern racist president.

(Chorus)

What a shame he has to be the current White House resident,

For he's a prime example of a modern racist president.

(Critic)

For many years he said Barack Obama wasn't born here. No!

His many racist words and actions date way back to long ago.

Now he's telling Congresswomen in a tweet and with a sneer

That they should go back home but it so happens that their home is here.

He never wants to criticize supporters' hateful, racist views.

Sadly, white supremacists are those from whom he gets his cues.

He doesn't think that putting kids in cages is insanity

Or realize his policies are crimes against humanity.

(Chorus)

Or realize his policies are crimes against humanity.

Or realize his policies are crimes against humanity.

Or realize his policies are crimes against human-humanity.

(Critic)

He knows to win elections all you have to do is lie and cheat.

He lashes out at other folks because he cannot take the heat.

What a shame he has to be the current White House resident,

For he's a prime example of a modern racist president.

(Chorus)

What a shame he has to be the current White House resident,

For he's a prime example of a modern racist president.

-by Bob B (7-16-19)

Hello Out There! Does Anybody Care?

The president says detention centers

Are in "good shape," despite the fact

That many asylum seekers spend

Days in cages, jam-packed.

Hello out there!

Does anybody care?

Pence visits the border and says

Everything's fine, which is INSANE.

He's says the treatment of people in cages

Is both compassionate AND humane!

Hello out there!

Does anybody care?

The president continues to

Defy congressional oversight.

Encouraging others to do it as well,

He thinks that what he's doing is right.

Hello out there!

Does anybody care?

When neo-Nazis are invited

To White House summits, it is clear

That things are totally out of control.

We have a real problem here.

Hello out there!

Does anybody care?

When men are accused of sexual assault,

The President does what he can

To castigate the accusers and say

The real victim is the man.

Hello out there!

Does anybody care?

When lies come out of the White House daily,

The truth becomes a jumbled mess.

When journalists try to sort things out,

The president demonizes the press.

Hello out there!

Does anybody care?

When we live our comfy lives,

Ignoring the pain that others face,

Our ignorance and lack of compassion

Don't fare well for the human race.

Hello out there!

Does anybody care?

-by Bob B (7-13-19)

Ana and Leonard Tied the Knot

(In honor of our dear friends Ana and Leonard, who were married in Germany on July 6. Congratulations to two lovely people!)

True love, people say,

Doesn't require a second thought.

Trippstadt has story to tell:

Ana and Leonard tied the knot!

Years in the making, such an event

Has been in the minds of many who've sought

To know what took the two so long.

Ana and Leonard tied the knot!

Now two lives have merged into one;

Their story has an amazing plot.

Cupid's arrow has struck again.

Ana and Leonard tied the knot!

Let the wine and champagne flow,

Though some will prefer a vodka shot.

They say it's a match made in heaven.

Ana and Leonard tied the knot!

When it came time to say "I do,"

They couldn't have been in a lovelier spot.

May their love inspire us all!

Ana and Leonard tied the knot!

Ah, when LOVE abounds, we know

A wealth of happiness will be our lot.

Raise a glass to the newlyweds!

Ana and Leonard tied the knot!

-by Bob B (7-7-19)

Murder in Pakistan

Maya Akbar° feared going home

To her hometown in Pakistan.

The person whom she feared was her father--

Obviously, an intolerant man.

Staying with friends in the town of Peshawar,

She didn't trust her family's pleas

For her to return to her parents' home.

Her friends deeply felt her unease.

Maya's father assured the police

That his daughter wouldn't be harmed.

The 19-year old transgender daughter

Nevertheless remained alarmed.

Reluctantly, she went home.

Hours later her friends' hearts sank:

Maya's bullet-ridden body

Was found beside a riverbank.

Police arrested Maya's father.

Her uncle and brothers are also being sought.

All over the world transgender people

Die because of the hatred that's taught.

Some call it an "honor killing."

Honor? No, it's murder, truly.

When ignorance fans the fires of hatred,

Many people suffer unduly.

Efforts are made all over to fight

Laws that are discriminatory.

Laws can change, but changing hardened

Hearts? That’s a different story.

-by Bob B (7-3-19)

°Formerly known as Aftab Aurangzeb, from Nowshera, Pakistan

Photo Op at the DMZ

(This poem can be sung to the tune of "Little Brown Jug.")

"Me and Kim Jong Un are friends;

Me and him, we made amends.

He rules with an iron fist--

Something that I can't resist.

(Chorus)

"Ha, ha, ha! Can’t you see?

We are making history.

Ha, ha, ha! Look at me!

I just crossed the DMZ!

"North Koreans live in fear.

Many often disappear.

Kim knows how to make 'em cower.

That is how he keeps his power.

(Chorus)

"Let's watch him as he revamps

His political prison camps.

Torture's carried out inside;

He says torture's justified.

(Chorus)

"Ultimate power goes to Kim.

He decides your fate at whim.

Sure, a few unlucky ones

Were killed by anti-aircraft guns.

(Chorus)

"When discussions reconvene,

Watch his propaganda machine.

Speaking up is not worthwhile.

Good chance you won't get a trial.

(Chorus)

"People here are thin, which means

They must eat a lot of greens.

Kim Jong Un is--I must state--

The only one who's overweight.

(Chorus)

"So he might have used starvation

To teach a lesson to his nation.

As long as they all give him praise,

They will live to see more days.

(Chorus)

"This is what he's demonstrated:

Human rights are overrated.

Still, I love to fantasize

That I'll get the Nobel Prize.

"Ha, ha, ha! Can’t you see?

We are making history.

Ha, ha, ha! Look at me!

I just crossed the DMZ!"

-by Bob B (7-1-19)