The Crisis Continues

The current coronavirus crisis

Continues to spread worldwide.

Its seriousness is NOT something

People ought to be brushing aside.

And yet at a recent rally, Trump

Called the deadly crisis a HOAX,

Which makes the situation worse

From all the ignorance that he stokes.

Muffling the experts endangers us

Even more as the virus spreads.

The truth-sayers and truth-deniers

Sadly are at loggerheads.

Contradicting our health officials,

The president sees everything through

The lens of his political prospects.

And who suffers? All of us do.

Some say, "Oh, not to worry."

But there is something to bear in mind:

COVID-19 has already caused

More deaths than MERS° and SARS° combined.

We need more tests and honest guidance.

And in the meantime it would be wise

To keep your unwashed hands far

Away from your mouth and nose and eyes.

-by Bob B (2-29-20)

°Other respiratory illnesses caused by coronaviruses

Attack of a Deadly Virus

When dealing with a serious crisis,

We need a leader whose words inspire us,

Not one who tries to cover up facts

In dealing with the spread of a virus.

Coronavirus (COVID 19)

Around the globe is quickly spreading.

If we--the public--remain uninformed,

Into what dark abyss are we heading?

At first the president seemed less concerned

About our welfare--our protection--

And more concerned about how the matter

Affects his chances of reelection.

Downplaying the words of the experts,

He doesn't want the markets to panic.

If we aren't told the truth, however,

The consequences could be titanic.

Censoring the information

From health officials isn't wise.

We will be subjected to more

Of the Trump administration's lies.

For Mike Pence to lead the response

Doesn't make any sense at all.

When dealing with a health crisis

In Indiana, he dropped the ball.

Governmental agencies

Created to deal with crises as such,

Have been hollowed out by Trump,

Who has the reverse Midas touch.

The head of the HHS:° guess who.

A former lobbyist! Oh, yes.

And for big pharma. Watch him make

The crisis into a bigger mess.

Trump must be the protagonist

In every drama, someone has said.

While he blathers, how many people

Will die from having been misled?

A leader needs certain qualities

To fight all kinds of vicious attacks:

Honesty and competence--

Two important things ours lacks.

-by Bob B (2-28-20)

°Health and Human Services

Hiding the Truth

D.T.:

Joseph Maguire.° Who the hell

Does he think he is?

As DNI, to share the truth,

He thinks the task is his.

To work for me--Donald Trump--

Anyone should see

That I expect--above all else--

Loyalty to me.

By now everybody should know

That things must go my way.

If they don't, you know there

Is going to be hell to pay.

When your biggest fans and supporters

Believe that you are royal,

Then anyone who disagrees

With you is being disloyal.

So what if various agencies

Find that there's a connection

Between the Russian government and

Our 2020 election.

When they give their intel briefings,

To them it should be clear

That such information is not

What I want to hear!

(Chorus)

A national security threat?

Sorry, Uncle Sam.

You can say we're under attack,

But I don't give a damn.

Our intelligence agencies

Think they're being precise.

But frankly I would much prefer

To follow Putin's advice.

The less that Congress knows the better

It is for all of us.

Election meddling is a topic

I choose not to discuss.

I will give the position to

My lackey, Richard Grenell.

He will do my bidding, and so

Sorry, Maguire: farewell.

I have friends in Congress who

Defend me to the hilt.

Nunes°° will do whatever I ask

And not feel any guilt.

We can weaponize the intel

Community and manage

That we make sure it's used for my

Political advantage.

(Chorus)

A national security threat?

Sorry, Uncle Sam.

You can say we're under attack,

But I don't give a damn.

Our intelligence agencies

Think they're being precise.

But frankly I would much prefer

To follow Putin's advice.

-by Bob B (2-21-20)

°Director of National Intelligence (DNI)

°°U.S. Representative for California's 22nd District

Las Vegas Debate

Easterners had to stay up late

To watch the Democratic debate

In Vegas, but we out here in the West

Tuned in early to watch the slugfest.

'Twas bound to happen, but oh, my God:

What a circular firing squad!

Right from the start, the hell raising

Debaters entered with all guns blazing.

Warren attacked Bloomberg with force

For purchasing the election, of course.

Then she attacked the others as well,

Going for the throat and giving them hell.

Amy and Pete, the Midwestern neighbors

Went toe to toe and brandished their sabers.

Biden was stronger this time, but again

He sounded like one of the twelve angry men.

Bernie, well, Bernie is always the same.

He tosses his daggers and shrugs off the blame.

He holds on tight to the aspiration

Of later securing the nomination.

Though Bloomberg indeed has bundles of money,

His boring demeanor is far from sunny.

As a debater, he didn't seem ready

And came off sounding weak and unsteady.

The moderators' questions were not

So wonderful and needed more thought.

The six debaters were fine on the whole,

Although at times they were out of control.

To separate the wheat from the chaff

Is crucial, and sometimes it's good to laugh.

Though some have expressed the apprehension

That we'll end up with a brokered convention,

Whatever happens, we will survive,

And may our final candidate thrive!

What's most important is that we can dump

The current president--Donald J. Trump.

-by Bob B (2-20-20)

Herman, the Fussbudget Cat

Herman is known as a fussbudget cat.

When you observe him, right off the bat

You cannot help but notice that

He's ALWAYS sulky and cross.

He doesn't like to be nagged or disturbed.

His grouchy behavior cannot be curbed.

He is the kind who is always perturbed

If HE can't be the boss.

He likes being pampered if you obey

His orders, which means he MUST have his way.

He wants what he wants and expects no delay.

You've got to follow his rules.

He thinks that you are wrong and misguided

Unless your attention remains undivided.

People must do what he has decided;

They merely serve as his tools.

Sometimes you'll find him on top of a heap

Of clothes from the dryer, trying to sleep,

And lying there without making a peep.

If so, leave him alone.

For if you move him, boy will he howl,

Chatter and scold you and let out a yowl,

And let the world know that something's afoul,

With rage and fury full-blown.

If he's asleep on your favorite chair,

You MIGHT try to move him (though I wouldn't dare),

For if you do, you'd better beware.

He's not going to be happy.

His response will be very clear,

Far from subtle, and rather severe--

The very last thing that you'd want to hear.

And don't ask why he's so snappy.

At dinnertime, finding a meal

For Herman becomes a daily ordeal.

It can't be beef or tuna or eel,

Too wet, too soft or too hard.

It can't be greasy, slimy, too cold,

It can't be too fresh, nor can it be old,

And heaven forbid if the flavor's too bold.

Oh, and he also hates lard.

His cat box needs a daily cleaning.

Not to do so is very demeaning,

For Herman depends on careful preening

And asks, What about you?

Would you want to continue to go

In a toilet without flushing it? NO!

You can thus see why he's fussy, and so

You know the right thing to do.

Despite the bothered look on his face,

He wants to assist the human race

By letting us know that just in case

He can be of service.

Herman can catch a mouse in a flash,

Keep other critters away from the trash,

And scare away bugs when you open the sash,

Though rats can make him nervous.

If Herman's so owly, you might wonder why

People still love the obstreperous guy.

Well, there are times when he'll honestly try

To be a likable fellow.

He'll calmly lie on your lap and contently

Purr when you pet him ever so gently

And kiss your hand, which consequently

Proves he can sometimes be mellow.

-by Bob B (2-19-20)

(Photo from online source)

The Pardon Party

The president's having a pardon party

To prove that he's a big wheel.

He's showing us that corruption here

Is NOT a very big deal.

Extortionists, swindlers, and liars

Now are going free,

While those accused of lesser crimes

Must pay a penalty.

Financial crimes are not a problem

For person number one.

Then let us see his tax returns

To see what HE has done.

In Trump's previous presidential

Pardons people saw

A whimsical and similar

Assault on the rule of law.

He wants to send a message to

His fellow partners in crime:

"Remain loyal to me and you'll

Avoid serving time."

And he claims he was concerned about

Corruption in Ukraine!

What a farce! Everyone knows

Corruption is HIS domain.

-by Bob B (2-19-20)

Miss Muffins, the Corpulent Cat

Miss Muffins is a corpulent cat--

A trait she hasn't really bemoaned.

However, she likes to see herself

Not as obese, but rather…big boned.

Big boned she isn't. Let's be frank.

But BIG she is: twenty-five pounds!

Once she discovered la bonne vie,

She put on weight in leaps and bounds.

The first time guests encounter Miss Muffins,

Their comments might sound picayune,

For they remark in disbelief,

"I didn't know you had a raccoon!"

Miss Muffins, who is highly offended,

Would love to dash from the room in disdain,

But since her poundage limits her movement,

Such an attempt would be in vain.

As long as she can lie by the window

And warm herself with the rays of the sun,

She doesn't have a care in the world

And wonders what could be more fun.

It's been a few years since Miss Muffins

Could jump up onto the bed or couch.

Her last attempt: a complete disaster.

She hit the floor with a thud and an "Ouch!"

Now she merely sits by the sofa

And looks up at her masters and cries,

As if to say, "Help me, please;

You could use the exercise."

There she curls up into a ball

And dreams of manifold savory things--

Things like tuna, goat cheese, sardines,

Chicken gizzards, and turkey wings.

If a mouse enters the room,

She says, "Ah, Mousie, I'm not in the mood.

Go ahead and eat what you like;

Just stay far away from all of my food!"

The only time Miss Muffins will run--

Well, sort of--happens each day when

She hears her masters call "Kitty, Kitty."

She knows its dinnertime again.

After her meal, Miss Muffins finds

A comfy place in the house to rest.

According to her theory, that

Is how one lets her food digest.

When little children come to visit,

Poor Miss Muffins lets out a moan.

"Why," she asks, "do they have to tickle

And prod me? Make them leave me alone!"

The best way to win her affection

Is simply to give her something to eat.

You will become best friends forever

By offering her a tasty treat.

If, however, you give her a taste

Of something she hates, she'll be quite candid.

You will know that you have erred,

For you'll be severely reprimanded.

Every so often, Miss Muffins hears

Something that fills her with great disquiet:

When she's at her doctor's office,

A four-letter word is mentioned: diet.

"Ah, it's time to change the subject,"

Thinks Miss Muffins. "Lovely weather."

To counter unwanted suggestions, she knows

We all have to band together.

“Okay,” Miss Muffins now concedes,

"I admit I’m a weight-challenged cat."

She can accept that label, but

Whatever you do, don't call her fat.

-by Bob B (2-18-20)

(photo from online source)

Socrates, the Professor Cat

Socrates, the professor cat,

Loves to teach and lecture.

Whether he gets his point across

Is sometimes merely conjecture.

When left alone for a period of time,

He'll meet you at the front door

Where he will greet you on your return

And also give you what for.

"Excuse me," he says in his feline way,

"But you would be obtuse

If you failed to see that your actions

Border on cat abuse.

"Yes, we're independent, BUT

Frankly, my dear, you seem

To want to exploit our autonomy

By taking it to the extreme."

He lectures for quite a while, for he

Wants you to do your best

When the time approaches for you

To take another test.

"You know we value promptness," he adds,

"And I don't mean to be rude,

But when our dinner is not on time,

We're NOT in a very good mood.

"Research, you know, is vital and your

Failure to study impedes

A total understanding of what

Constitutes our needs."

He constantly tries to teach you patience

And thinks your dedication

To knowing his mind for both of you

Is a win-win situation.

If you misplace something, such as

Your watch, your keys, or a ring,

He'll stare at you as if to say,

"Oh, you poor, poor thing."

When you're frazzled, his calm demeanor

Implies that you at least

Would benefit from the study of ancient

Wisdom of the East.

He likes to observe from afar as you

Go about your activities,

Ever watchful to see if you are

Developing harmful proclivities.

At other times he just sits back

To see how much you've learned

And tries to silently calculate

How much praise you've earned.

If he desires a tasty treat

And thinks that you're withholding

Something from him, you'd better watch out:

You'll be getting a scolding.

Admonishingly, he says, "Do NOT

Think my methods nefarious,

It's just that learning broadens your being.

Take it from THIS Sagittarius."

You think you're one step ahead of him--

At least so you assume.

But Socrates will let you know

Who is teaching whom.

-by Bob B (2-16-20)

(photos from online sources)

What to Do?

What should Americans do when they see

The president tearing the country apart?

What should we all rely on to guide us?

What are solutions? Where do we start?

We can't rely on our institutions,

For Trump's destroying them one by one.

That makes it harder to stop the man

And his partners in grime. Pardon the pun.

We can't rely on the DOJ,

For Trump's henchman is running the show.

Barr is there to do Trump's bidding,

To cover-up truths as the scandals grow.

Can congressional oversight

Stop the megalomaniac?

No, not when the Senate is full

Of Trumplican toadies who have his back.

It's up to the people to take to the streets,

To march, make phone calls, show our persistence

In striving to stop this brutal assault

On democracy through passive resistance.

Voting, too, will be crucial

If there are freedoms you want to save.

Through apathy and blind allegiance,

What you'll do is dig your own grave.

-by Bob B (2-15-20)

Fiesta, the Party Cat

Fiesta is the party cat.

She won't play second fiddle;

Whenever there's a party going on,

She is smack in the middle.

Shrimp cocktail and salmon croquettes--

That's what she prefers.

Don't abandon your plate or else

Fiesta thinks it's hers.

"A lot of cats are skittish," she says,

"And thus they have a bad rap.

I, on the other hand, don't mind

Sitting on anyone's lap.

"Of course, I have an ulterior motive

That guests don't always see.

When I give them attention, there's always

Something in it for me.

"When caviar is served, you'll find me

Walking on a cloud.

I must apply all of my charm

To butter up the crowd.

"I love it when guests rub my tummy

And tickle me under the chin.

When I smell clam dip on their fingers,

My head starts to spin!

"I must admit I have no patience

For guests who shout, 'Achoo!'

And then stentoriously blow their nose

And rudely tell me, 'Shoo!'

"The nerve of them to stifle my pleasure!

For me, goal number one

Is to enjoy each precious moment--

To live means having fun!"

As soon as the dancing begins, Fiesta

Finds a safe location

Far away from dancing feet,

For height is her limitation.

Fiesta waits to hear the hosts

Say, "Let's go to bed.

We can clean up the mess tomorrow."

Then she raises her head.

With everybody gone there's no one

There to scold or berate her.

She can survey each bowl and plate

To see what treasures await her.

"Sally Bowles was right," she says;

"Life is a cabaret!

Why can't my servants put on

A party every day?"

She eats till her stomach is ready to burst,

Heedless of any warning.

Everyone wonders why she is so

Listless in the morning.

-by Bob B (2-14-20)

(photos from online sources)

Taking an Axe to Democracy

Watch our mob boss president

Take an axe to democracy,

Bringing us another step closer

To what we'd call an autocracy.

Calling on AG Barr for help,

Trump shockingly intends

To put the Department of Justice to use

To harm his opponents and help his friends.

Trump has been politicizing

The DOJ for quite some time.

If you thought he was bad before,

Well, now he is in his prime.

Watch our spineless Senators

Turn their heads and look askance

As Trump defies the rule of law

And does his banana republic dance.

Career officials are resigning;

They can't take it any longer:

Watching Trump retaliate

And seek out ways to make himself stronger.

Woe to us if we can't stop

This maniac who's out of control.

Has America lost its will?

Has America lost its soul?

-by Bob B (2-12-20)

Hercules, the Alley Cat

Hercules is the alley cat

Who stalks the alleys at night

And climbs into the trash containers

To find a tasty bite.

“Cat food is a bore,” he says,

“And doesn’t suit my taste.

Besides,” he adds, “it’s silly to let

Good food go to waste.”

The local cats admire his skills

To manage on his own

And how he’s able to clean remaining

Meat off any bone.

Before the trash collectors come by

To empty the bins, ol’ Herc

Rummages through the open containers,

Keeping busy at work.

Rodents are no match for him

When he’s in the mood

To supplement his diet with

A fresher type of food.

“Residents don't,” he says with sigh,

“Appreciate us cats.

Because of our great diligence,

The streets have fewer rats.

“A problem nowadays," he laments--

“A definite no brainer--

Is how to manage when there is

A lid on the trash container.

“You must learn to be dexterous, agile,

Sneaky, snappy, and clever."

Some give up when they are challenged,

But Hercules will never!

It's said that Herc often receives

The blame for being a pater

After encounters with lady cats--

Sixty-some days later.

“I’m known for being promiscuous,

But that is just a rumor,”

He says with a wink to let us know

He has a sense of humor.

“It’s dangerous at night,” he says,

“For there’s a threatening owl

That flies in from the park, and dogs

Are always on the prowl.

“In order to survive in life--

You can take it from me--

You always need alternatives--

What you call Plan B.

“I am an expert at dodging and prancing;

My skills are hard to beat.

When YOU take a fall, are you always

Able to land on your feet?

"Fate has given me obstacles,

Which I call my 'Labors.'

If you don't believe me, well,

Just ask all the neighbors."

So Hercules, or Herc, if you will,

While not seeking fame,

Hopes that he, nevertheless,

Can live up to his name.

-by Bob B (2-10-20)

(photos from online sources)

Grief

When a loved one dies,

Our lives take a sudden turn.

It’s something we often forget--

Something we have to relearn.

Reasons and explanations

Remain beyond our ken.

We learn our lives will never

Be the same again.

Our heart, laden with sorrow

And pushed to the point of breaking,

Becomes overwhelmed

With painful, relentless aching.

Memories might console us

And give us some relief,

But nothing can prevent

Another visit from Grief.

When he pays a visit,

He tells us he's our friend,

Although his true intentions

Are hard to comprehend.

Quietly, he approaches
And whispers in our ear,

"Know that in the future

I will always be near."

-by Bob B (2-7-20)

The Great Cover-up

The Great Cover-up. That's what it was.

The trial in the Senate--a sham.

The Trumplicans want the process behind them.

Water over the dam.

Witnesses were not allowed

To testify, which meant

That many of us were disappointed

With how the process went.

Whatever the outcome would have been,

The truth was highly suppressed.

That's what happens when evidence

And facts are not addressed.

Praise to Romney, the only Republican

Senator who admitted

That Trump at least on one of the charges

Should NOT have been acquitted.

The other Republican Senators

Chose absolution.

They backed their cultish leader instead of

Defending the Constitution.

Good-bye, rule of law. Good-bye,

Democratic protections,

For Trump's been given carte blanche to

Corrupt future elections.

-by Bob B (2-6-20)

Just Watch Him Now

If Trump was uncontrollable,

Which made you unconsolable,

Just watch him now.

If it's hard to understand

How lying can get out of hand,

Just watch him now.

If his supporters in Congress don't muster

The courage to tell him that he's nothing but bluster,

And instead they bow to him,

Grovel and kowtow to him,

THEN YOU JUST WATCH HIM NOW.

If his nominations

Never met your expectations,

Just watch him now.

If you thought his judges

Would help support his grudges,

Just watch him now.

If you found his polices unfair and perverse,

Thought the situation here could never get worse,

And simply found the man unfit

And basically a hypocrite,

THEN YOU JUST WATCH HIM NOW.

He loves to stir up

A hullabaloo.

Just imagine how much

More damage he'll do.

If you thought his major pitch

Went to help the filthy rich,

Just watch him now.

If you thought he wouldn't dare

To tamper with our Medicare,

Just watch him now.

If he thought himself above the law, then

He is going to break the law again and again.

So, Senators, you who cower,

As Trump takes away your power,

YOU JUST WATCH HIM NOW.

-by Bob B (2-5-20)

Leader of the Cult

(This poem can be sung to the tune of the Shangri-La's 1964 pop hit "Leader of the Pack.")

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8UKf65NOzM

Are they really voting for him?

Well, yes, they are. Just ask them.

Voters, are those MAGA hats that you're wearing?

Hm-hmmm…

Gee, it must be strange voting for him.

Did you think he'd make the country great again?

Uh-huh.

Tell us why you support him.

We watch him on the TV screen.

It seems his simple words ring true--

That's what we think. (Yes, you do.)

That's why we follow (the LEADER OF THE CULT).

He says that he is the chosen one (one, one).

And knows how the country ought to be run.

(Whaddya mean when he says he knows how the country should be run?)

He says he can't do wrong--

That with him we'll be strong.

That's why we follow (the LEADER OF THE CULT).

He says the president's like a king.

Silencing his critics is his thing.

(Whaddya trying to say when you say he's like a king?)

He will defy Congress, he said.

And that's how we will get ahead.

That's why we follow (the LEADER OF THE CULT).

He doesn't care if Russia's involved

In our elections--that's all right.

In his opinion, Russia is absolved.

If he acts out of spite,

As long as he wins, that'll be delight!

Right now! Right now! Right now! Right now!

He says that his intentions are real.

We don't care what things he tries to conceal.

We'll let him get his way;

We're going to do whatever he'll say.

We will always follow (the LEADER OF THE CULT).

-by Bob B (2-2-20)