And in These Times?

An Arkansas pastor claims

That half of his church is willing to lick

The floor to prove that COVID-19

Is merely a hoax--a liberal trick.

In Florida, a megachurch

Pastor brazenly defies

An order restricting gatherings

Of more than ten people. NOT very wise.

The Bible study teacher for

Trump's Cabinet displays

His ignorance in blaming the spread

Of the virus COVID-19 on gays.

But no, not only on gays, but on

Environmentalists to boot.

How dangerous when an adviser at

The White House is a spiritual brute!

As if he knows the mind of God,

He says that God is angry; hence,

God is punishing humankind.

Where are reason and common sense?

It's hard to believe that in this year--

2020--one could swallow

Such poppycock, such balderdash,

Such vacuous words, cold and hollow.

-by Bob B (3-31-20)

COVID-19: If the Virus Pays a Call

(This poem can be sung to the tune of "If I Only Had a Brain" from THE WIZARD OF OZ.)

We can wash our hands completely

And socialize discreetly.

We have the wherewithal.

We should spare no expenses

To keep up our defenses

If the virus pays a call.

We can scrub down every finger--

So nothing bad can linger--

With rubbing alcohol.

Though our hands start to chafe now,

We feel that we are safe now

If the virus pays a call.

We can keep a social distance

To strengthen our resistance.

The task is far from small.

I hope you do not slug me

Just 'cause I won't let you hug me

'N case the virus pays a call.

It's not a sci-fi plot;

The problem's very real.

The virus can survive on many surfaces.

So tell me how that makes you feel.

Yikes!

We ought to be investing

In lots and lots of testing,

But someone dropped the ball.

We need negotiators

To find more ventilators

If the virus pays a call.

I can't wait till this is past us.

We CAN'T let it outlast us;

Let's make the numbers fall.

Be cautious and be wary

And do all that's necessary

If the virus pays a call.

-by Bob B (3-29-20)

Serving Mammon

Yes, it has been in the news

And from reliable sources, too.

For some people it's all about

The worship of money and revenue.

Certain Trumplicans maintain

That some of us are really dispensable

And ought to sacrifice our lives.

Such ideas are reprehensible!

They say that we who are up there in age

Ought to do our part to save

The world by going to work every day,

Even though it could mean the grave.

By working during the current pandemic,

We can keep the economy going.

Never mind the lives that are lost;

Just keep that money flowing.

"Come on, Grandpa and Grandma," they say,

"Do this for your grandkids now.

They will love your noble gesture."

And then they bow to their sacred cow.

Money over human lives:

That's what this is all about.

If you think that's a good idea,

Then go to work, but count me out!

-by Bob B (3-29-20)

A Dangerous Path

As Trump gets more obnoxious, his

Approval ratings rise.

Why can't more Americans see

The danger in his lies?

The man's a total disaster; he's

A wheel missing some spokes.

At first he lied at his rallies, saying

COVID-19 was a hoax.

Now he wants to expunge those words

From all the records, of course.

He's doing it to save his hide; it's not

Because he feels remorse.

Misinforming the public's a ploy

He's done all along.

He would prefer to croak than ever

Admit that he was wrong.

As governors scramble to fight a virus,

Requests go unheeded.

States compete for medical

Supplies badly needed.

Many people's lives are at risk.

Health workers require

Protective gear, for they are directly

In the line of fire.

"America first" has long been Trump's

Pretended aspiration.

We ARE first: we have more cases

Than any other nation--

Cases of COVID-19, that is.

The numbers, too, are rising.

Due to our government's slow response,

That is not surprising.

Testing, testing, testing is key,

Experts keep repeating.

To act without adhering to facts

Is totally self-defeating.

Experts, speak out! Don't be afraid

Of Trump's tantrums and wrath.

Failure to give us the truth will lead us

Down a dangerous path.

-by Bob B (3-27-20)

Looking for a Rainbow

When the day is murky

And clouds obstruct the sun,

I look for shining moments

Before the day is done.

I know it often seems

The clouds are here to stay.

Still, I hope a rainbow

Will brighten up my day.

I trust that at some point

I won't be wondering when

The gloomy clouds will leave us

And the sun will shine again.

Call it optimism

Or my naïveté,

But I still seek a rainbow

To brighten up my day.

The stormy clouds create

A harsh reality

And make the silver linings

Difficult to see.

Do not be disheartened

By what nay-sayers say.

You might see a rainbow

To brighten up your day.

I know we have to take

The bitter with the sweet.

A setback here or there

Doesn't mean defeat.

Just hang on to hope

And don't be led astray.

You will find that rainbow

To brighten up your day.

-by Bob B (3-26-20)

Don't Hoard All the Toilet Paper!

Don't hoard all the toilet paper!

Leave some for the rest of us.

There's enough to go around,

So we have a right to make a fuss.

Don't go crazy buying masks.

Leave some for the medical staff

Who badly need protective gear.

Spread the word on their behalf.

Why keep hoarding bottled water?

Water from the tap is fine.

Get a water purifier

If yours is not a good as mine.

Disinfectant wipes? Come on!

Do you need them ALL for yourself?

Couldn't you just take your share

And leave a few for me on the shelf?

Paper towels? Purell? Also

Disappearing round the clock.

Do we have to ration items

To keep a few more things in stock?

Do not fill the ER, please,

Unless you have an emergency,

Because if I get seriously ill,

I want there to be a spot for me.

There are a few things you should hoard:

Try hoarding common sense,

Responsibility, and caution.

Knowledge is our best defense.

Corncobs? They are out of the question.

It would put my mind at ease

If everybody followed directions.

Do not hoard the TP, please

-by Bob B (3-23-20)

The Game of Life

We're thrust into the Game of Life

Crying, "Here I am! Make way!"

And then we have to play along,

Whether or not we want to play.

Confused and bewildered at first, we strive

To gather together strategic tools

To help us maneuver through twists and turns,

And as we play we learn the rules.

The game's not always easy, for our

Priorities often need rearranging.

What makes life even trickier yet

Is that the blasted rules keep changing!

Once in a while we win a round;

And then once in a while we lose.

We learn to celebrate our gains,

To ride out storms, to pay our dues.

We also learn that fellow players

Are NOT always on our side.

Thus, it's necessary for us

To be prepared for a bumpy ride.

Along the way, we will encounter

Liars who try to sabotage

Our efforts to thrive. We also have to

Learn what's true and what's a mirage.

Ah! Those moments of happiness--

We want to grasp them to make them last.

But sad times make their unwelcome entrance

And must be dealt with until they've passed.

Close calls often occur, and at times

We don't even know that they are there.

Don't be neurotic and paranoid,

But here's some advice: always beware.

Play with gusto, and always maintain

The enthusiasm of a beginner,

For in this game, each of us

Can ultimately be a winner.

Once we make our final move,

Forget grasping, fortune, and fame.

The rules will have changed again;

We'll be playing a different game.

-by Bob B (3-22-20)

Living in a Dystopian Novel

Empty shelves. Lack of supplies.

Fighting a virus that's unforgiving.

School closures. Loss of jobs.

A new reality in which we're living.

Hospitals filling. Medical staff

In danger from lack of protective gear.

Stores and industries shutting down.

For how long remains unclear.

Closed borders. Cancelled flights.

Social distancing's a must.

Living in a dystopian novel,

We hear the command: Adjust! Adjust!

Where is our federal leadership?

Scrambling for sure, but this is worth noting:

The president's spreading misinformation

And keeps applying a sugar coating.

We need help! our governors say;

We're limited, but doing what we can.

The president says, "We are not

A supply shop." Compassionate man!

When asked pertinent questions about

Allaying the public's fears or stress,

Our insecure president

Loses control and attacks the press.

For months we knew of the imminent threat,

And yet where was the preparation?

The jaw-dropping inactivity

Of our leadership endangers our nation.

Our ICU surge capacity

Must be increased, experts insist.

And personal protective equipment

Should be at the top of the list.

Unfortunately, the president's

Narcissism gets in his way.

We DON'T need empty promises;

We need action. Now! Today!

We'll get through this eventually.

Because of him? No! In SPITE of him

Who leads us down the rabbit hole

And governs by a hunch and a whim.

-by Bob B (3-21-20)

Don't Give It to Me!

They say we must be careful

Not to spread our germs.

Here's a situation with which

We've got to come to terms.

Viruses can be deadly--

Especially one like this.

This one isn't one that we

Can easily dismiss.

Wash your hands with soap,

Cover your mouth when you sneeze,

And do not touch your face with unwashed

Hands, geez Louise!

Avoid crowded spaces

To keep the virus from spreading.

To extreme social distancing:

That's where we are heading.

If you have a symptom

That makes you nervous, you

Should first of all not panic because

It might be the flu.

Stay home and be cautious;

Be sure to isolate

Yourself from others, for COVID-19

Doesn't discriminate.

If your test results

Indicate that yes,

You have caught the virus, then

Don't run to the press.

Let your doctor know.

To do that don't think twice.

Do everything in your power to follow

The doctor's sound advice.

Let's all do our part

To get this under control

So life can go on as before.

That should be our goal.

However, if you choose

To live life recklessly,

And end up catching the virus, well,

Don't give it to me!

-by Bob B (3-18-20)

What We Are Learning

COVID-19 is here! We have to

Do what we can to slow its spread.

Failure to act appropriately

Will mean scarier times ahead.

Experts say the mortality rate

Of the flu is zero point one percent;

COVID-19 is ten times worse.

Someone, PLEASE tell the president!

It's also NOT something that we

Control through travel bans,* they say.

Testing is crucial. South Korea

Tests 10,000 people a day!

Have bureaucratic snags prevented

Testing here? If testing is key

To help suppress the spread of the virus,

And others can do it, why can't we?

Identify and isolate.

We need more tests and on the double.

If health systems are overburdened,

We will be in a heap of trouble.

Yes, we have to "flatten the curve"

And practice precautions to the letter.

Still, the situation is going to
Get much worse before it gets better.

One thing we've learned: Trump and his cronies

Had stifled many efforts to contain

The spread of the virus by carrying on

Their reckless disinformation campaign.

Clear, honest messaging

And not a suspicious, distrustful inaction

Is what we need; otherwise,

You're going to dislike the coming attraction.

-by Bob B (3-12-20)

*At first experts disagreed as to the effectiveness of travel bans--especially arbitrary travel bans.

It's That Time Again

Today will be the kind of day

That I would rather wish away.

But wishing will not change the fact

That it's time to reenact

A little procedure--not so merry--

Which, I fear, is necessary.

For I have to prep, you see,

For my colonoscopy!

TMI, you say. Why share

The messy details of this affair?

Details? No, I'll spare you those.

That is something to leave to the pros.

But anyone who's done this before

Knows what tomorrow has in store.

Frankly, it's not my cup of tea--

Having a colonoscopy.

The prep is really the part I hate.

No solid food upon my plate.

And nothing purple, red, or blue.

Jello's the only thing I can chew.

Otherwise, it's liquids only.

My stomach's already feeling lonely.

Tomorrow I will eat with glee,

AFTER my colonoscopy.

Tonight at 6:00 the "clean-out" commences.

That could have bad consequences

If our toilet were out of commission.

Then I'd be in an awkward position.

Tonight you will have to admit

That you can't say I'm full of &!#%.

I assume that you'd agree:

Not fun, a colonoscopy.

-by Bob B (3-8-20)

Growing Old

Growing old probably has

Advantages. Yes? Perhaps.

Although it makes me a little nervous

When I have a memory lapse.

We should grow wiser, shouldn't we?

Wisdom comes with age, they say.

Tomorrow then I hope to be

Much wiser than I am today.

One thing that's certain is these days

I spend more time than I did in the past

At doctor appointments and funerals.

And NOW time passes by so fast!

Though I'm able to read in English,

German, French, Italian, Spanish,

And also a little Norwegian, how much

Longer until my synapses vanish?

It's said that playing an instrument

And learning languages helps the brain.

I hope so, yet it seems that I

Forget much more than I retain!

If in October you ask me about

A book I finished in September,

I can say I read it, but that's

About all that I can remember.

But reading itself is such a pleasure

That when I read a book and then

Forget the details completely, I know

That I can always read it again.

Was it that long ago that I

Was trim and I could jog and dance?

My jogging/dancing days are over,

And now my tummy hangs over my pants.

But walking's something I can do.

I can walk for miles at a time,

Even though I'd hardly say

That currently I'm in my prime.

Every day should be an adventure,

For life's marvels are manifold.

Don't let anything stop you--not even

A little thing like growing old.

-by Bob B (3-6-20)

National Pancake Day

Ah, pancakes, hot off the griddle--

Buttermilk pancakes, oozing with butter

And drowning in gooey maple syrup.

Oh, my goodness! My heart’s all aflutter.

Forget the eggs, bacon, and sausage;

Let the flapjacks fill my plate.

I intend to savor every

Delicious bite to celebrate.

Got blueberries? Get them out.

Stir them into the sumptuous batter.

Serve the cakes for breakfast, lunch,

Or even dinner; it doesn’t matter.

A few carbs, a little sugar…

I don’t care. What the hay?

I’m enjoying a piece of heaven.

Happy National Pancake Day!

-by Bob B (3-4-20)