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)

Beware of Hawks

Watch as the hawks preen their feathers.

Searching the landscape, they keep track

Of what is happening all around them

Before planning their attack.

Having a keen sense of vision

While on the lookout for easy prey,

They don't care how others see them

As long as they can win the day.

Traditional diplomacy?

No, that's not part of their plan.

Their hearts are set on crushing their victims

And seeing how far their wings will span.

Conflict seems to energize them,

For conflict is their food, their source

Of livelihood. They don't care

If others suffer. There's no remorse.

Surreptitiously, they act--

Never flaunting their true intent.

Their prime tactics cause confusion--

A truth they try to misrepresent.

They say that acting so is their nature.

Does ALL their aggression make them feel joyous?

It’s sad to suddenly realize

That they were always out to destroy us.

Peace comes at a giant cost

As high above us they circle and soar.

Negotiating with them is useless

When their minds are set on war.

Don't be taken in by their cunning.

Don't fall prey to their devious cries.

Save yourself and others by knowing

How to separate truth from lies.

-by Bob B (5-11-19)

Watch Out, Women!

Watch out, women! Across the country

Privileged white men are taking

Steps that will abolish for you

The right to your own decision-making.

Ah, these white, privileged men

Think that they are justified

In having complete control, as though

The Handmaid's Tale is their guide.

Something that isn't an easy decision

Will still not be yours to be made

If these white, privileged men

Continue to carry out their crusade.

If these privileged lawmakers

Get their way--just so you know--

And if you choose to defy their decree,

Off to prison you will go.

How these men love to decide

What you should or shouldn't do!

How these men love the power

To know what is best for you!

Once your rights are severely restricted

And these white men are on a roll,

Just watch as they then proceed

To tamper with your birth control.

Women all, be vigilant!

You must act before it's too late.

You'll be stripped of your rights. Is that

Something you will tolerate?

-by Bob B (5-10-19)

The Showdown

Congress has numerous duties

With oversight being one.

The president's decided that

Such oversight he will shun.

In other words, he chooses to thumb

His nose at our Constitution.

His lackeys in Congress refuse to defy him,

Fearing his nasty retribution.

Refusing to cooperate with

The lawful demands of Congress, he

Thinks that he's above the law,

Which justifies an inquiry.

Occurring at the moment is

A constitutional crisis, which

The president craftily plans

To pull off without a hitch.

Defying subpoenas and trying to silence

Witnesses' testimonies,

He's rejecting checks and balances

With the help of some of his cronies.

The president seems to think

That certain people should be exempt

From testifying. But watch as they

All are cited for contempt.

Americans deserve to know

What is really happening here.

Trump's obstruction of justice and his

Abuse of power are something to fear.

What it boils down to is this:

It's Trump versus the truth. That's it!

If you dig deep, you will find

What motivates the hypocrite.

If his record were squeaky clean,

Hearings could be set aside.

However, his suspicious behavior

Keeps us wondering, "What's there to hide?"

-by Bob B (5-9-19)

And He Lies to Us

(The poem can be sung to the tune of the hymn "He Walks with Me," as sung by Merle Haggard.)

We hear when Trump speaks on the news;

We're amazed at what he is saying.

But no fans believe how he can deceive

Those on whom he is preying.

And he lies to us and he cries to us,

"I am the greatest on earth!"

He is such a disgrace! How can his base

Ignore his full lack of worth?

He talks about helping us all.

That's not true; he's only pretending.

He would rather prop up those at the top.

His tales are never-ending.

And he lies to us and he cries to us,

"I am the greatest on earth!"

He is such a disgrace! How can his base

Ignore his full lack of worth?

Feel sorry for people who don't

See beyond the man's shifty notions.

Wait until they've learned how they have been burned.

He just goes through the motions.

And he lies to us and he cries to us,

"I am the greatest on earth!"

He is such a disgrace! How can his base

Ignore his full lack of worth?

-by Bob B (5-8-19)

Another Love Letter

Dear Donald, I have to say

How much I love our private jokes,

Especially the one that we

Both have called the Russian hoax.

You have learned a lot from me.

Fortunately, you're on my team.

All the power that I have

For you, however, is just a dream.

But keep up your strategy

Of duping the public. True, you'll find

You cannot fool everyone.

But there's one thing to bear in mind:

The more you condemn your nasty critics

And put the critical press on trial,

The more power you'll have. Can you--

While reading this-- see me smile?

The 2020 election will be

Very important. We can thwart

Your Democratic opponent, so

Let me know if you need support.

If you say a cloud has been lifted,

Then I think we both agree

That if you lift some sanctions, you'll

Lift the cloud that's over me.

I like how your trust in me

Overshadows the trust in your own

Experts there. For more advice,

Call me on the telephone.

By the way, I have to say,

I'm still counting every hour

Till I can have my penthouse view

From high atop your Moscow tower.

I'll support you, by the way,

But don't ask me to be your caddie.

I can dig up dirt on any-

One you want. Your friend, Vladdy.

-by Bob B (5-7-19)

An Accomplice to a Crime

"William Barr is my name,

But you can call me AG Barr.

Protecting Donald Trump must be

The highlight of my repertoire.

"I'll defy the rule of law,

And I don't give a damn if I'm--

Despite what others say or think--

A sly accomplice to his crime."

"Lindsey Graham is my name,

Call me Senator Graham, please.

Selling one's soul to the devil is

Where I have my expertise.

"I don't care if Trump's corrupt

Or stretches the truth all the time.

If he furthers my goals, I will

Be an accomplice to his crime."

"Devin Nunes is my name,

But you can just call me Devin.

Having Trump as president

Is a right-wing extremist's heaven.

"If you want to obstruct justice,

Follow the president's paradigm.

Give up your integrity AND

Be an accomplice to his crime."

"Sarah Sanders is my name.

I am THE press secretary.

Whenever I lie for President Trump,

I just say a quick Hail Mary.

"Working for this president

Is something that I'd call sublime.

No one really cares if he

Or she's an accomplice to his crime."

So many people willing to lie--

So many people willing to begrime

Their character and reputations

As accomplices to the president's crime.

-by Bob B (5-5-19)

ЯUSSIAN ЯOULETTE

Will Russia's election meddling ever

Come to an end? We keep hopin'.

But now the president blatantly

Colludes with Putin out in the open!

Recently, another phone call

Between Trump and Putin occurred.

Was Russian election meddling mentioned?

According to Trump, NOT one word.

But why would Trump want to stop

Interference in our elections?

If Russia helped him win before,

Why would he now raise objections?

He doesn't trust investigators

Here. He'd rather demonize

The FBI, while at the same time

He swallows all of Putin's lies.

Now team Trump seeks outside help

To hopefully tarnish the reputation

Of another political opponent.

Character assassination.

No maneuver is too low for Trump.

Will his actions come back to haunt him?

One thing we know: the Russians have

Donald Trump right where they want him.

People concerned about America's

Strength and safety should be upset

As Trump spins the cylinder

In a dangerous game of Russian roulette.

-by Bob B (5-4-19)

Lowering the Barr

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

"Sessions was what you would call

Someone who's not on the ball.

First of all, that little elf

Should not have recused himself.

"Now William Barr--well, he's my man.

From the start he was my fan.

He'd have all the tools--yup!--

To cover up a cover-up.

(Chorus)

"Ha, ha, ha, and he, he, he…

I have found a devotee.

William Barr as my AG

Will certainly look out for me.

"Obstructing justice is I know

For me the only way to go.

Somehow if you play with it,

You can get away with it.

"Stack the cards and you will manage

To give yourself a great advantage.

Barr sent signs that he would thwart

The full release of the Mueller Report.

(Chorus)

"Ha, ha, ha, and he, he, he…

I have found a devotee.

William Barr as my AG

Will certainly look out for me.

"He to such a great extent

Knew how to misrepresent

Mueller's findings. Barr was smarter,

For he could help me be a martyr.

"Confuse the public! Misconstrue

Facts so they don't know what's true.

That is how I made my mark.

My bite is much worse than my bark.

(Chorus)

"Ha, ha, ha, and he, he, he…

I have found a devotee.

William Barr as my AG

Will certainly look out for me.

"With Barr at the DOJ,

I can make a power play.

I'll have my lawyers sue sue sue.

I'll defy subpoenas, too.

"I will stonewall--yes, I will--

To frustrate all on Capitol Hill.

Supporters will stand by my side,

Ignoring all I have to hide.

(Chorus)

"Ha, ha, ha, and he, he, he…

I have found a devotee.

William Barr as my AG

Will certainly look out for me."

-by Bob B (5-1-19)

OJ

The Mueller Report is out--at least

We've seen the version that's been redacted.

Was anyone really surprised

At how the president reacted?

Trump's first reaction was

That he had been exonerated.

Not so fast, Mr. T!

There's no reason to feel elated.

First of all, obstruction of justice

Runs through the detailed report.

Trump and friends ignore those findings--

One more thing they choose to contort.

In our current culture of lying

Coming all the way down from the top,

One can find little hope

That all the lying's going to stop.

Trump's lackey, AG Barr,

Lied to the American people as well.

Of course, we've known all along

That he has a bill of goods to sell.

Now to add insult to injury,

Trump has come up with a solution:

Fighting congressional oversight

And tromping all over our Constitution.

Trump is defying subpoenas from Congress.

He's telling his people to do it, too--

Telling them to break the law.

So now what will Congress do?

Obstruction of justice appears to be

For Donald Trump a major M.O.

As he defies our basic values,

It's scary to see how far he'll go.

The cancer continues to spread in the White House.

It must be removed. Otherwise,

American democratic values

Will wither before our very eyes.

-by Bob B (4-25-19)

Impeachment's in the Air

(Can be sung to the tune of Frank Sinatra's version of "Strangers in the Night")

Impeachment’s in the air.

Just look around.

People everywhere

Can hear the sound

Of justice coming forth

In Washington, D.C.

Investigations must

Keep on advancing.

Watch as Donald Trump

Keeps on dancing.

Yet we all know there

Is no guarantee.

Impeachments in the air, and Trump has lost it.

Impeachments in the air.

Up to now we have put up with a lot,

But now we're NOT.

"It's politics!" some will shout,

But principle's what it's about.

When more become aware

Of Trump's obstruction,

They will not declare

It's a production

And say that it's not fair.

Impeachment's in the air.

…

"It's politics!" some will shout,

But principle's what it's about.

Congress, if you care,

Then don't be snooty.

Please do not despair.

Just do your duty.

That's his cross to bear.

Impeachment's in the air.

La, la, la, la, la…

-by Bob B (4-23-19)

Death Threats

The current president's rhetoric is

A cause for great alarm.

His words have the potential to cause

Other people harm.

Now a woman in Congress is

The focus of his abuse.

Once again, for his behavior

There is no excuse.

According to Trump, the congresswoman

Doesn't understand

Real life; what's more she

Deserves a reprimand

For words he took out of context.

He placed those words beside

Images of 9/11,

When nearly 3,000 died.

In such tweets, the president

Exposes his usual role

Of being a cold, hate-mongering,

Vicious Internet troll.

Real life? Ilhan Omar

Fled Somalia when

A bloody civil war tore

The country apart, and then

She spent four years in Kenya

In a detention camp, waiting

To seek refuge in the U.S.,

Her hopes never abating.

She did not have wealthy parents

To pamper her with cash

And give her millions of dollars to

Make a societal splash.

Now she's getting death threats--

Something that's not rare

When people hear a president

Who really doesn't care.

It seems as though by hurting others

Is how Trump feels fulfilled--

As though he doesn't care if his words

Cause someone to be killed.

This exploitation of anti-Muslim

Sentiments has to stop.

We expect much more from

The person at the top.

-by Bob B (4-18-19)

Who Cares?

Who cares if the earth becomes

Uninhabitable in so many years?

Who cares if the Antarctic

And Arctic ice disappears?

Who cares if worldwide

The ocean's coral reefs are dying?

Who cares if extreme weather

Around the world's intensifying?

Who cares if coastal areas

Become flooded as sea levels rise?

Who cares if we must see

The rain forests' tragic demise?

Who cares if methane's released

From melting Arctic permafrost?

Who cares if global chaos

Causes countless lives to be lost?

Who cares if instability

Causes huge worldwide migrations?

Who cares what we leave

Behind for future generations?

Who cares if temperature

Extremes "cook" parts of the earth?

Who cares if crops fail

Because the land's of little worth?

Who cares if our warming planet

Allows for a greater spread of disease?

Who cares if the temperature

On earth rises a few degrees?

Who cares who suffers from

Particle and plastic pollution?

Who cares if leaders fail

To seek a climate change solution?

I care! We all should.

This is the only home we possess.

Complacency is dangerous.

Heed the call of the SOS!

-by Bob B (4-16-19)

The D.T. Playbook: Chapter 6 (Defiling the DOJ)

Defrauding the public isn't hard

When you're one of the Trumps.

The president is especially good

At duping his loyal chumps.

So, after Trump fired James Comey,

He fired AG Sessions.

Those two firings were just a part

Of the president's indiscretions.

Next came Matthew Whitaker--

A Donald Trump lackey--

As acting AG, and whose background

Was--let's say--a bit tacky.

Now AG Barr is there

To willingly play his part

And show how he and Trump are both

Connected heart to heart.

Barr's recent appointment has

Very clearly shown

That the president has managed

To get his Roy Cohn.

Keeping Congress from seeing the full

Mueller report, Barr

Acts LESS like a fair AG

And MORE like a czar.

Flouting the rule of law, Trump

And Barr, political hacks,

Can end up doing a lot of damage

Behind Americans' backs.

Now Barr has mentioned the word

"Spying." It never fails

That Trump's appointees tend to go

Completely off the rails.

Making Trump a victim only

Satisfies his base.

Trump and Barr don't care whether

Their actions are a disgrace.

Now the tinfoil-hat group can say

"All the acrimony

Toward Trump is a nasty plot."

What a bunch of baloney!

Our leadership has never been

So chaotic. Never!

Elections, they say, have consequences.

Boy do they ever!

-by Bob B (4-11-19)

You Won't See My Tax Returns

(Can be sung to the tune of "Here Comes Peter Cottontail")

"You won't see my tax returns.

So what if you've got concerns.

You are never going to get your way.

"Though I talk transparency,

It does NOT apply to me.

You can ask but I will not obey.

"I've got Mick Mulvaney,

And he has got my back.

I don't cave to pressure;

I will never crack.

"So you won't see my tax returns.

You can stick all your concerns

Up a dark place where the sun don't shine.

"No, YOU won't see my tax returns.

Just how much a president earns

Shall remain a secret, which is mine.

"I don't care if they resort

To laws, then we'll end up in court.

All I have to say is 'Make my day!'

"Business ties with Russia

And other countries, too,

And how I make my money

Are NO concern to you.

"So…

You won't see my tax returns.

Anyone who knows me learns

Very quickly I do things my way.

"Everyone has things to hide.

Cover-ups are justified.

My returns won't see the light of day.

No, my returns won't see the light of day."

-by Bob B (4-8-19)

Being in the Now

The past has disappeared, and yet

It's all a part of this moment somehow.

The future hasn't occurred, but it

Is nonetheless tied to now.

The essence of what we were before birth

And also of what we'll be when we're gone

Eludes those who want to explain

An existential phenomenon.

Humankind's greatest attempts

To clarify life's mysteries

All fall short of certainty.

Is there one who truly "sees"?

Time and being are inextricably

Woven together. How sublime!

Time cannot be separated

From being, nor can being from time.

Why spend time--if that's the case--

Speculating on hocus-pocus?

Finding one's authentic self

Ought to be one's major focus.

Fight the waves and you might be

Swept away in the undertow.

Dive into the river of life

And let yourself go with the flow.

-by Bob B (4-4-19)

Watching the Breath*

All was still on the temple grounds.

The sun softened the morning haze

While birds playfully pranced about,

Enjoying the warmth from the sun's gentle rays.

Morning meditation ended.

The master excused the monks to do

Their duties. A novice stayed behind

To ask for a private interview.

"I understand," he said, "that it's

Time for us to do our chores,

But I have an urgent problem.

Can we speak behind closed doors?"

They entered the dokusan chamber where

Regular interviews took place.

The novice closed the door to the chamber.

There they sat, face to face.

The novice said, "I don't know

What to do. I'm bored to death

With daily meditation sessions.

I'm SO tired of watching my breath!"

The master nodded his head and replied,

"Bored, you say. Hmmm. I see."

He stood up, walked to the door,

Turned and said, "Come with me."

He led the monk to the river's edge.

There he grabbed him by the head

And held it under the rushing water

Until the young monk’s face turned red.

The novice squirmed and flailed his arms,

"I am going to drown!" he thought.

When the master freed him, the monk

Gasped for air, feeling distraught.

Admitting that his strategies

Were such that some would disallow,

The master said to the monk, “Tell me:

Are you bored with your breath right now?"

-by Bob B (4-1-19)

*An old Zen anecdote retold here in verse