"I Can't Breathe!"

"I can't breathe!" said a handcuffed man

Lying on the ground, trying to explain

That HE COULDN'T BREATHE! Sadly his words,

Falling on deaf ears, were said in vain.

"I can't breathe!" he said to the cop

Who had him on the ground to keep him in check.

"I can't breathe!" he told him again,

While the cop pressed his knee against his neck.

"I can't breathe!" said the man accused

Of possibly passing a counterfeit bill.

"I can't breathe!" For seven long minutes

The man repeated those words that chill.

"I can't breathe!": words reminiscent

Of Eric Garner's death in twenty fourteen.

"I can't breathe!" should have sent a signal

To others, but why did no one intervene?

"I can't breathe!" George Floyd's words

Were caught on video by someone firsthand.

"I can't breathe!" What about those words

For some of our police is hard to understand?

"I'm about to die!" the suspect added.

Will more black men suffer the same fate?

Finally, the cop removed his knee

From George Floyd's neck, but it was too late.

-by Bob B (5-28-20)

What Might Hamlet Say...in Rhyme?

To wear, or not to wear a mask. The question:

Whether we wear a mask and stay protected

From possible contraction of a virus,

Or NOT and have to face the unexpected.

And if we thus throw caution to the wind,

Endangering the lives of those around us,

We will find the consequences costly.

The sad and dire statistics will astound us.

When we question what the experts say

And let ourselves be fooled by sly deceivers,

Then we end up on a wild pursuit

With other dazed conspiracy believers.

Confounded when some leaders give reports

That artfully confuse the truth with lies,

We MUST rely on facts that keep us from

Performing actions that would be unwise.

Experts say if we do not act now,

Later we'll experience regret.

It's not about just saving our own skin,

But other people's lives, lest we forget.

I don't think I'm wrong to say that life

Is something that most people value most.

Therefore, I reiterate that I

Am not so keen on giving up the ghost.

When we see behavior that is careless,

We should know to sound a loud alarm.

Some folks out there do not stop to think

How their recklessness is causing harm.

To wear a mask, of course, is not a pleasure;

For now it's just a necessary task.

But getting folks to wear one: that's the rub.

But tell me: is it way too much to ask?

Spread the word: oh, please put on your mask!

-by Bob B (5-26-20)

Memorial Day 2020

What a year this has been!

A virus has paid an unwelcome call.

Our world is filled with the lovely smell

Of Lysol, Purell, and alcohol.

Of course, there's a push to "open up,"

But opening up must be done right.

Some people are going about it

In ways that truly aren't very bright.

And then there are those compelled to defy

Rules to protect us. For goodness' sake!

Hanging the governor in effigy?

Come on, people: give us a break!

Keep your distance and wear your mask

When out in public. Surely this way

You and your loved ones will hopefully have

A peaceful and safe Memorial Day.

-by Bob B (5-25-20)

Praise to All Who Do Their Part

Praise to essential service providers

Who daily put their lives on the line.

Such a giant debt we owe them!

May their hearts forever shine!

A special shout-out to doctors and nurses

And other health care workers who strive--

With limited equipment--to keep

Patients with COVID-19 alive.

Praise to epidemiologists

Who give us guidance and rules to follow

When the advice given by some

Of our topmost leaders is hard to swallow.

Praise to all who do their part

To keep a deadly virus from spreading,

Despite scary uncertainties

That make it hard to know where we're heading.

Praise to all who listen to

The voices of reason and do not let

The voices of ignorance cause them to

Behave in ways they'll one day regret.

And while we're praising all these people,

Remember the victims who had to die.

When a government's responses

Are muddled, the cost in lives can be high.

-by Bob B (5-22-20)

The COVIDIOT

“I’m not going to wear a mask,”

The man says with a look of defiance,

As he stands in the midst of a crowd,

Defying common sense and science.

"I don't like the government,"

The man without a mask proceeds.

It only comes in handy for him

When it happens to suit his needs.

"The government is not," he adds,

"Going to tell me what to do."

Only his unreliable

Sources tell him what is true.

"The CDC can't be trusted,"

He says with a look of disdain,

Letting too many conspiracy theories

Seep into his paranoid brain.

"No business or place of work

Can make me wear a mask," he declares.

When it comes to the safety of all,

His words show how little he cares.

"Freedom is what it's all about,"

He shouts, but he just doesn't see

That it has nothing to do with freedom;

It’s merely utter stupidity.

-by Bob B (5-21-20)

Beyond the Mountains

I want to see beyond the mountains,

Know what's hiding deep in the sea,

And survey the fascinating features

Of the human heart's topography.

We can scale the towering peaks

So we can see what lies beyond,

And we can probe the ocean’s depths

To understand that giant pond.

The human heart's more problematic;

So many secrets are hidden deep.

At times its depths are hard to fathom,

Its self-protective walls too steep.

We must always keep on searching

And NOT assume that we comprehend

All that can be known, for knowledge

Has no boundaries, no end.

If going beyond our human knowledge

We tap into the Absolute,

Imagine the bliss of suddenly seeing

A transformed being taking root!

-by Bob B (5-17-20)

Meet Mr. C

I’m a tiny virus;

Corona is my name.

I love stealthiness.

That's my claim to fame.

If you would prefer,

You could call me Mister.

How’d you like to meet

My brother and my sister?

It’s really very easy.

They are all around--

Sometimes in the air;

Sometimes on the ground.

We like it when you gather

Together in large groups.

That’s when we decide

To call out all our troops.

We rely on people

To let down their guard.

For some careless ones,

That’s NOT very hard.

If you want to meet us,

Look for crowded places,

Where there aren’t a lot

Of masks on people’s faces.

Of course, you know that our

Ubiquity demands

That people everywhere

Do not wash their hands.

We really love it when

People do not pay

Attention to the experts

Or let them have their say.

Spreading conspiracy theories

Helps you to meet us

And drowns out the voices

Of those out to defeat us.

We rely on leaders

With questionable goals

And people who believe them

And frown on safe controls.

I hate it when I hear

The ugly word "vaccine."

How could people be

So thoughtless and so mean?

I won't make it easy

For those who want me dead,

For MY raison d'être

Is "Spread, Baby, Spread!"

-by Bob B (5-16-20)

Scary Aspirations

He longs to rewrite history--

For us to see the world through his eyes,

With help from his favorite TV station,

Which scandalously spreads his lies.

He'd love to control the media,

Eliminating the critics who

Point out his flaws. Watch him try

To shoot one on Fifth Avenue.

He caters to his oligarchs--

To those who use their power and wealth

To fill their pockets and gain control,

Often through fraudulence and stealth.

He uses kowtowing appointees to help

Create dirt on his critics to draw

As ugly a picture as he can

And violates the rule of law.

When we have a national

Emergency, and things look dim,

He does his best to cover up

The truth and makes it all about him.

He even wants political

Opponents to be locked away.

Yep, Trump is acting more

Like Vladimir Putin every day.

-by Bob B (5-15-20)

There's a Virus Going Around!

(This poem could be sung to the melody of Stephen Sondheims's song "Giants in the Sky" from INTO THE WOODS.)

There's a virus going around!

There's a harmful, horrible virus going around!

When you wake each day,

And you hear the news,

And you'd like to think

That it's just a ruse--

That it's maybe a dream--

And so you refuse

To let it change your life.

Then you realize

That the dream is real,

And you learn that you

Simply can't conceal

The troubling facts

That the signs reveal.

You know…you must

Decide to place your trust

In people who don't put on airs.

Their message scares

Us because there's

A harmful, horrible virus going around--

A harmful, horrible virus. Oh, yes, that's what they've found.

And it is a threat

To both you and me.

Yet some people say

That they don't agree.

Though it creeps up close

And it doesn't make a sound,

It's all around.

If only we knew how

To fight it best.

One thing we know is

We can take a test.

But the president seems

To be so obsessed

With other matters, so…

Each state is stuck with

Figuring it out.

And you're out of luck

Unless you've got clout.

So you distance yourself

From others, no doubt.

And you wonder how

The delays came about.

But hey!…Just say,

"We can make this go away!"

But to find a path

Will not be a breeze.

We need expertise

In times like these.

Some say that our economy must come first.

If that is more important than lives, then we’re at our worst.

Yes, we have to work to live and thrive,

But to work a person must be alive.

There are some things that

Can or cannot be reversed.

It's all around.

There's a virus going around!

There's a harmful, horrible, awful, deadly, dangerous

Virus going around!

-by Bob (5-13-20)

(Listen to Lin Manuel Miranda sing Sondheim's song on YouTube.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pz-eZEcsvIk

Hoping a Vaccine Will Soon Arrive

When I wear my mask,

It feels like a disguise.

If I smile, I hope that you

Can see it in my eyes.

I admit a mask

Is not so fun to wear.

And if it makes me look a little

Dorky, I don’t care.

I know my mask is not

Foolproof, but I suppose

It’ll keep some viral droplets

Out of my mouth and nose.

And when I take it off

At any time or place,

What I have to tell myself is

“Do not touch your face!”

Trying to keep my sanity and stay alive,

I’m hoping a vaccine will soon arrive.

My designer masks

Are really quite unique.

But frankly, I won’t go so far

To say that I look chic.

Who would have guessed?

What a crazy year!

Ten months ago I never thought

About protective gear.

We all know, of course,

Pandemics are not fun.

All the repercussions touch

Each and everyone.

But we do not know

All that might ensue

If we do not carry out

The things we ought to do.

Trying to keep my sanity and stay alive,

I’m hoping a vaccine will soon arrive.

If scientists create

A new vaccine, then we

Also have to wonder how

Effective it will be.

But I look forward to

A lovely future day

When I can leave my masks off and

Can put them all away.

Trying to keep my sanity and stay alive,

I’m hoping a vaccine will soon arrive.

-by Bob B (5-10-20)

"Plandemic" Rubbish

Far-right extremists have made

A film to promote their crusade.

It's just a stupid series

Of conspiracy theories.

So far from the truth they have strayed!

It's frightfully scary how some

Could do something that is so dumb.

Immune to reproaches,

Just like creepy roaches,

From out of the woodwork they come.

-by Bob B (5-10-20)

The COVID-19 Blues

Life as we knew it has changed for now,

With concerts, theater, and sports on hold,

For COVID-19, a nasty virus,

Is NOT your typical flu or cold.

Daily life is a challenge lately.

Former routines are now a chore--

Little things, like going shopping

And bringing groceries home from the store.

So much that we took for granted,

We now see from a different perspective.

Functioning while saving lives

Has to be our main objective.

Every day it's coronavirus!

Every day it's in the news.

Day and night it's coronavirus.

I've got the COVID-19 blues.

The Center for Disease Control

Is muzzled by the current regime.

We hear White House "happy talk,"

But things are likely worse than they seem.

Trump and his White House staff all know

That testing is crucial--at least for them.

And yet they say that WE don't need it.

Misinformation with a capital "M."

We deserve expert guidance;

We need the truth and a workable plan.

We've heard one lie after another
Since this deadly pandemic began.

Every day it's coronavirus!

Every day it's in the news.

Day and night it's coronavirus.

I've got the COVID-19 blues.

It's hard to watch the public displays

Of ignorance and the flouting of rules.

Conspiracy theories are rapidly spreading,

And truthers continue to act like fools.

Although it's easy to feel depressed

When listening to the White House clown,

It's important that we do NOT

Let adversity get us down.

As much as I'd love to hug my family,

Go to the theater, and be with friends,

I will do my best to remain

Healthy until the danger ends.

But meanwhile, it's coronavirus!

Every day it's in the news.

Day and night it's coronavirus.

I've got the COVID-19 blues.

-by Bob B (5-9-20)

Forward, Trumpian Warriors!

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "Onward, Christian Soldiers.")

Forward, Trumpian warriors!

Off to war you go--

Off to fight a virus,

Marching row by row.

Trump, the royal leader,

From a White House room,

Calls for you to fight for him though

It could mean your doom.

Forward, Trumpian warriors!

Off to war you go--

Off to fight a virus,

Marching row by row.

When a deadly virus

Moves across a land,

We know gear to fight it

Has to be on hand.

Trump wants states to battle

Fully on their own.

He sends warriors to the front lines

Tweeting from his phone:

Forward, Trumpian warriors!

Off to war you go--

Off to fight a virus,

Marching row by row.

Trump says be a hero;

Make a sacrifice.

To keep money flowing

All must pay a price.

Your life for your country.

How's that for a deal?

To hear his priorities just

Listen to his spiel.

Forward, Trumpian warriors!

Off to war you go--

Off to fight a virus,

Marching row by row.

Trump says many experts

Have mistaken views.

He gets his advice from

His friends on Fox News.

While the people suffer,

Trump has fans like Mitch.

They will make for certain that the

Rich will still stay rich.

Forward, Trumpian warriors!

Off to war you go--

Off to fight a virus,

Dropping row by row.

-by Bob B (5-6-20)

Helping Grandma

According to Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm,

When Grandma wasn't feeling so good,

Mom packed up some wine and cake

And sent it with Little Red Riding Hood

To Grandma's house, deep in the forest.

Along the path Little Hood met

The hungry Wolf who ultimately

Taught her a lesson she'd never forget.

Having devoured Grandma, and now

Waiting to eat the grandchild as well,

The Wolf couldn't stop thinking about

Gobbling up the little belle.

We all know that Little Hood

Ended up in the Wolf's big belly,

Along with Grandma. It must have been

A place overly cramped and smelly.

A hunter came by and saved the day

By putting an end to the dangerous thug.

Grandma enjoyed her cake and booze;

The Wolf became the hunter's rug.

My favorite moral is as follows:

When Grandma is sick and lying supine,

To help raise her spirits, take her

A little cake and a bottle of wine.

-by Bob B (5-5-20)

The Valiant Tailor

The valiant tailor claimed to be valiant,

But he was mainly a phony, a fake.

Killing seven flies with one blow

Does NOT a super hero make.

But, oh, he thought a lot of himself.

Let's just say he was full of hot air.

His ego grew to such an extent,

He wanted his fame to spread everywhere.

Street smart he was--clever and wily.

He quickly learned how to con the crowd.

Winning by playing deceptive games

Made him feel accomplished and proud.

Subduing giants was not a problem

Since he had numerous tricks up his sleeve,

Like pitting them against one another.

His motto should have been, "Deceive!"

Inciting discord was part of his plan.

To make his point he also would tap

Into confusion around him, hoping

That his opponents would land in his trap.

The people never witnessed first hand

The valiant tailor's heroic acts.

All they had to go on was his

Side of the story--his made-up facts.

Through guile he won the princess's hand

And half of a kingdom. Becoming a king,

He rose to the highest level of

Incompetence. That was his thing.

Although the Brothers Grimm recorded

The story many years ago,

Doesn't the tailor seem familiar?

He sounds like somebody else we know.

-by Bob B (5-4-20)

Perilous Protests

Careless protesters gather together

In cities across the United States,

Criticizing stay-at-home orders

And thumbing their noses at the Fates.

Unmasked demonstrators stand

Only two or three feet apart,

Indicating a lack of caution

And showing us they are NOT being smart.

It doesn't help when the president

Encourages foolish behavior. What's more,

Far-right militia thugs show up

And look as though they're waging war.

Nobody cherishes not being able

To socialize with family and friends.

All of us look forward to

The day that social distancing ends.

Everybody wants to get

Back to normal as soon as we can.

But to do it we need to have

A thoughtful, safe, reliable plan--

A plan assembled by experts for whom

Saving lives is the main goal

In order to help us back on our feet

While getting the virus under control.

Ignorance is a poor companion.

When life throws us a wild curve ball,

Remember: people's stupid behavior

Endangers not only them but us all.

-by Bob B (5-3-20)

Poem 1,000

I’ve made it! Where? To poem one thousand--

"Published" for people to read online.

Every time I finish a new one,

I get a feeling that's hard to define--

Not because it's a tour de force,

A magnum opus, or masterpiece;

It's just the idea of letting thoughts flow

And then feeling a sense of release.

Call it a marriage of thoughts and expression:

That's what writing is tantamount to.

I sometimes wonder: do you find

A poem, or does a poem find you?

I still enjoy the challenge of rhyme.

Up to now that's been my choice.

After hundreds of poems, rhythm

And rhyme have helped me to find my voice.

I like to merge poems and songs,

So, often I write with a tune in my head.

Some of my critics ask me, "Aren't

Some things better left unsaid?"

Oh, no, no! I have to reply.

When life gives you a little nudge,

You let thoughts out, come what may.

But true, the reader will be the judge.

Since there's such a wealth of topics,

And time's no issue since I'm retired,

So long as my Muse inspires me,

I'll write until I am labeled "Expired."

-by Bob B (5-1-20)