The Parable of the Precious Jewel

A man who lived in a small town

Was having trouble earning his keep.

He went to visit a friend. They dined.

Then he got drunk and fell asleep.

 

The next morning the friend went away

On business and left behind a note.

However, before he left he'd sewn

A precious jewel inside the man's coat.

 

When the man awoke, he ate

Some breakfast, dressed, and then departed.

He had NO idea that

His friend had been so giant-hearted.

 

Leaving the town, the man went looking

For work, which was a struggle for him.

He took on any job he could,

Even risking life and limb.

 

After a number of long, hard years

Of toil, he happened to run into

His friend who was in town on business--

The friend who was so well-to-do.

 

On seeing him, the friend was aghast

And asked why he was working so hard.

He noticed the man's frail form,

His sunburnt face, his arms so scarred.

 

"When I saw you last, I sewed

Inside your coat a precious jewel,"

He said. "If you had discovered it,

You wouldn't have had to work like a mule.

 

"Here you have been slaving away

Unnecessarily.

Go find the jewel and wisely sell it.

The money will surely set you free."

 

Ah, at times we’re unaware

Of hidden gifts that we possess--

Gifts that can truly change our lives

And greatly affect our happiness.

-by Bob B (8-17-23)

°From Chapter 8 of the LOTUS SUTRA

The Parable of the Burning House*

A wealthy merchant lived in a house,

No, in a mansion on many acres.

He had scores of servants to help him,

Along with drivers, butlers, and bakers.

 

The mansion itself wasn't the safest

Place in which to live, for it

Had dangers lurking about, and many

Would say that to live in, it was unfit.

 

The building had only ONE entrance,

Which meant that people could be in a scrape

In case an emergency arose

And all the occupants had to escape.

 

One day indeed a fire broke out.

The wealthy merchant was petrified.

Although his staff all left the building,

His children continued to play inside.

 

"Children, run out quickly!" he yelled.

"You'll die if you don't listen to me."

Ignoring him, his children kept playing,

What would it take for them to flee?

 

Then the father had an idea,

Even though it wasn't true.

"Children, leave the house right now.

I have some carts that are waiting for you.

 

"Some are pulled by goats, while some

Are pulled by deer or oxen," he said.

"Stop playing inside. Come out

And play with these gorgeous carts instead."

 

The children, excited, pushed their way

Out of the house, escaping the fire.

Outside, the promised carts were not

To be seen. So, was the father a liar?

 

In the meantime, the father was having

The most incredible carts created

Ever seen by anyone.

The eager kids stood by and waited.

 

Beautiful beyond belief,

The carts were covered with gems and flowers.

Pure white oxen pulled them around.

The kids delighted in them for hours.

 

If the father hadn't thought fast,

The fate of his children could have been grim.

The gift he gave them exceeded his promise.

Their safety was what was important to him.

 

Our great house is burning, too.

If benefits of leaving seem small,

By heeding the words of the experts, we'll find

A greater gift awaiting us all.

-by Bob B (8-16-23)

*From THE LOTUS SUTRA

Shut Him Up!

Trump keeps talking and talking and talking,

Hoping his statements will serve as a tool--

A self-fulfilling prophecy--

To tamper with the jury pool.

 

He's also trying to stir up his base.

He thinks he'll get away with whatever

He says to discredit our courts, our system.

Let's hope he's being more foolish than clever.

 

His campaign trail is going to be crazy

With detours to visit court after court.

One would think he would be more careful,

But keeping quiet is not his forte.

 

Trump can bully, berate, and disparage

Others, yet when he is criticized,

He plays the poor, innocent victim

Who doesn't deserve to be so despised.

 

The judge has got to put a stop

To all his nonsense. What will it take?

A sock? A muzzle? Some time in jail?

How to subdue a venomous snake….

 

He will NOT stop talking, he says.

You'd think he'd be on a slippery slope.

Will it all come back to bite him?

Let's cross our fingers and hang on to hope.

-by Bob B (8-9-23)

The Less Said the Better

Trump and his lawyers had better shut up

If they want to win his case.

They're digging a deeper grave each day

In efforts to try to stir up Trump's base.

 

Every time Trump opens his mouth

He sticks his foot deeper inside.

He lies to justify his actions,

But facts are something from which he can't hide.

 

We have the videos, speeches, and tweets,

In which Trump makes his intentions clear.

Will he keep pushing the envelope

As the upcoming trials draw near?

 

"Most Republicans act like weak jerks,"

Says Trump, as he goes after his own.

Nothing or no one is sacred to him;

He can't even leave his supporters alone.

 

They have to "get tough" and "fight fire with fire,"

He says. The man cannot keep quiet.

It's almost as though he's intent upon

Instigating another riot.

 

Trump has been admonished to watch

His words and actions before his trial.

Is that even possible

For someone like him who lives in denial?

 

Will he attempt to cooperate?

Most likely he will try to derail

Our system of justice. We will see.

Maybe he'll blow it and end up in jail.

-by Bob B (8-5-23)

INDICTMENTS? NO WORRIES

DT:

It makes no sense to me at all.

It's really stupefying.

Why don't more Americans

Believe me when I'm lying?

 

I have had SO much practice.

It's SUCH a cinch to do.

After telling fibs, I start

Believing they are true.

 

My fans, of course, have no trouble.

They will not deceive me.

I could say the earth is flat,

And they all would believe me.

 

Republican opponents are scared

Because I'm in control.

I'm ahead of all of them

In poll after poll.

 

I have no fear of all of these

Indictments. They're baloney!

If prosecutors say that they

Have evidence, it's phony.

 

Me a co-conspirator?

Well, now that depends.

I prefer to say that it

Is friends helping friends.

 

That sexual misconduct crap--

That's another gripe.

I wouldn't touch those women, for

They're clearly not my type!

 

I lie and say that Democrats

Like an open border

And socialism. Thus, I cause

Chaos and disorder.

 

Oath Keepers, Qanon,

And Proud Boys are my fans.

I can count on them to help me

Carry out my plans.

 

Even if I am convicted,

That would be okay

Because I know my fans would still

Send their votes my way.

 

If I continue to muddy the waters,

I'll be sitting pretty,

For I'll turn people against the system.

Aw, what a pity!

 

I laugh when people talk about

Accountability,

For don't they know that all those rules

Do not apply to me?

 

I'll have to play the religion card

To bring in millions again.

Here's my plea: "O Praise the Lord

And send those checks! Amen!"

-by Bob B (8-4-23)

Protect Yourself, America!

(This poem can be sung to the melody of "America the Beautiful.")

 

America--red, white, and blue--

Please keep your hopeful dreams,

And don't let folks diminish you

With all their shameful schemes.

Protect yourself, America,

From all who'll do you harm.

We hope to see democracy

Remain our good luck charm.

 

When you hear sounds of people's lies…

When folks conspire and plot

And tamper with your character

To make you what you're not,

Protect yourself, America!

We watch with hope and awe

As you shall strive to keep alive

Our vital rule of law.

 

How sad it is when folks conspire

To damage and defraud

And place within their line of fire

This country that we laud.

Protect yourself, America!

Don't fret and don't give in!

In times like these stay strong and please

Don't let conspirers win.

 

Democracy is fragile, so

When times are getting hard,

We trust that we'll survive, although,

We must be on our guard.

Protect yourself, America!

Our values must stay strong.

When people say we've seen our day,

We have to prove them wrong.

-by Bob B (8-2-23)