Those Soaps!

Okay, I will admit that occasionally

I’ll watch a soap opera or two on TV.

But I ONLY watch them in SPANISH or GERMAN.

Maybe that’s not your cup of tea.

The stories are often predictable and corny.

The acting can often be histrionic,

With characters crying at the drop of a hat.

Some are likable; some are demonic.

There’s always a hero who saves the day

And a villain whose tactics make us irate;

There’s always the good person whom we love

And also the bad one whom we hate.

How much the actors rehearse, I don’t know;

But they always seem to know their lines.

When they are supposed to look good, they look great.

And the women are often dressed to the nines.

The actors know how to work the audience—

To make people laugh and to make them cry.

And, yes, I’m often caught in the trap,

And I shed a few tears. Don’t ask me why.

Always intrigued by the manipulative characters,

I wonder: Will truth and goodness prevail?

Does poetic justice really exist?

Or is it merely an old fairy tale?

Honest and true are some of the characters;

Others are full of deceit and lies.

The plots are full of misunderstandings.

Every so often, expect a surprise.

Some of the actors are very attractive;

Some are plain, and so it goes.

But most are good at persuading their audience

To believe what they’re saying—at that they are pros.

We often become attached to the actors;

Some enter the show and then soon are gone.

Once in a while monotony sets in

When the story goes on, and on, and on.

With so much happening—Hey, wait a minute!

Corny? Predictable? Histrionic? Same ol’ drill?

Am I talking about soap operas here,

Or am I talking about CAPITOL HILL?


By Bob B (7-12-14)

Spurious Argument

Ay ay ay ay ay!

The say that Dana Rohrabacher* of California,

While attending a conference for climate-change deniers,

Quoted a coal mine owner from Kentucky

Who had made an “argument” for climate-change decriers.

The “argument” states that Earth and Mars

Have the SAME temperatures, which goes to show

That since Mars has NO coal mines,

That definitely proves to us that there’s NO

Connection between climate change on Earth

And the negative results of human activity.

Hmmm. If Rohrabacher buys that B S,

Then gullibility’s his general proclivity.

First, a conference for climate-change deniers?

Whom could they find to do their bidding?

The conference itself is crazy enough.

But their foolish argument! You’ve got to be kidding!

MINUS eighty-one degrees Fahrenheit

Is the AVERAGE temperature on Mars. Okay?

On Earth it’s PLUS FIFTY-SEVEN degrees.

THAT is quite a difference, I’d say.

Their failure to look at facts before them—

Their completely absurd and bold defiance—

Tells us that too many people out there

Flatly received an “F” in science.

Politicians like Dana Rohrabacher

And some of the other anti-science snobs

Cause one to wonder in amazement:

Is IGNORANCE a requirement for their jobs?

By Bob B (7-11-14)

 * U.S. Representative for California's 48th congressional district

The Race to the Finish

The crowds gape and gawk

As the runners scurry along;

The patter of their footsteps

Rhythmically taps out a song.

The runners—all over the place—

Should be working in teams.

But some are a bit disjointed.

At least, that’s how it seems.

Many are optimistic

That Team A can pull it together.

It’s hoping to gain greater speed

Despite unpredictable weather.

It’s trying to direct its vision

Forward along the route,

And not let the frequent slopes

Cause concern or doubt.

The team's ONE major weakness,

Which sometimes causes dismay,

Is its trust in the other teams.

Maybe that’s naiveté.

Team B is quite problematic.

One wonders how it will succeed

With each member placing more focus

On each individual’s speed.

While pretending to move forward,

The team is not looking ahead;

The team members keep on gazing

At the path behind them instead.

Popular for being outspoken

And NOT for being discreet,

Some members even suggest that

They’re certain to win if they cheat.

Teams C and D are determined
To keep up with the rest,
Though one's more independent
And the other one's more self-obsessed.

These two teams are clever

At stirring up trouble; in brief,

Their presence in the race

Provides some comic relief.

“This race to the goal seems endless!”

Some of the runners opine.

Everyone’s starting to wonder
If there’s even a finish line.


By Bob B (7-10-14)

You Scratch My Back; I'll Scratch Yours

“You scratch my back; I’ll scratch yours.

Our work together underscores

The advantages of quid pro quo;

Make your deal and then lie low.”

That’s the motto—the new hymn—

A Texan anthem, tidy and prim.

Leaders and companies in collusion;

The loss of our rights—a foregone conclusion.

Ammonium nitrate—as a rule—

Is dangerous near your house or school.

But not in Texas, no siree!

There are no zoning laws, you see.

There’s almost NO place where you CAN’T

Build your ammonium nitrate plant.

And with no statewide fire code,

Your plant could easily explode.

In Texas last year that occurred;

From miles away the people heard

The explosion leaving fifteen dead,

With many injured and damage widespread.

After a tragedy on such a scale,

You’d think the leaders would assail

The lack of safety in their laws—

You’d think that it would give them pause.

The state’s Attorney General, however,

Changed ONE thing ONLY, and that—how clever!—

Was knowing the location of chemical sites

That are potentially dangerous is not in our rights.

In short, they’re not required anymore

To say where they are—even if next door!

I can say that would make me nervous;

Such dangerous laws do us a disservice.

Concerned Texans are up in arms.

While AG Abbott works his charms.

When politicians and businesses mix,

Just watch what’s in their bag of tricks.

Is it coincidence, or are we none the wiser?

But Koch Industries Fertilizer

In Sweetwater, Texas, is run by Chase Koch.

(And what I am telling you here is no joke.)

By donating thousands to Abbott’s campaign,

Koch, of course, knew what he could gain.

His dad also threw in some cash.

Quid pro quo? Or were they just being brash?

Some CEOs find regulation a curse.

To them, any control is perverse.

Safety laws are not needed, they say.

And they don’t mind putting us in harm’s way.

Back to the motto—you know the song—

Listen and watch how they string us along.

A little scrutiny will often reveal

That it’s all about money and making a deal.

“You scratch my back; I’ll scratch yours.

Our work together underscores

The advantages of quid pro quo;

Make your deal and then lie low.”


By Bob B (7-9-14)

Proud Dads

In beautiful Norway in the city of Bergen,

The aquarium has wonderful news to share:

Two penguin dads are now proud fathers,

And all are excited for this penguin pair.

Pondus and Herman Pile became parents—

Adoptive parents, that is—when a mom

While already sitting on two penguin eggs,

Unexpectedly dropped a bomb!

Yes, to everybody’s amazement

The mom laid a third egg which would create

A problem, for the first two chicks would survive,

But the third would suffer a cruel fate.

So Pondus and Herman Pile have the chance

To demonstrate their parenting skills,

And at the same time they’ll get to experience

Indescribable parenting thrills.

The big day has come and the egg has hatched.

Everyone seems to be on cloud nine.

In case anyone wants to know:

Dads and baby are doing fine.


By Bob B (7-8-14)

Resting Insured?

When you think of it, there is quite a selection

Of ways to offer the guise of protection:

There’s disaster insurance when upheavals cause strife;

There are many types that cover your life.

There’s auto insurance to protect your car;

There’s trip insurance when you travel far.

We have insurance that covers our health

And business insurance to protect our wealth.

There’s burial insurance for when you die;

There’s the overdraft type when your account runs dry.

Property insurance protects your house,

And there’s divorce insurance for you and your spouse.

I.D. protection secures your identity,

And credit insurance is a useful entity.

Liability insurance protects physicians;

Aviation insurance covers certain conditions.

Terrorism insurance might be handy,

And builders’ risk insurance is dandy.

There’s insurance coverage for your pet;

There’s a kidnap and ransom type, too; so don’t fret.

Pianists sometimes insure their hands—

Singers their voices, farmers their lands.

With so many insurance premiums to pay,

How could one afford to live day to day?

There’s something for every condition and occurrence;

But ULTIMATELY there is NO insurance.


By Bob B (7-7-14)

At the Mad Tea Party

Assembled around the wobbly table,

The revelers babbled and blathered and prattled.

Never before had there been such a din

As their chairs all clanked and jangled and rattled.

“Such a lovely day for a party!”

The ladies twittered and chortled and giggled.

“A better tea party we’ve never seen!”

The men laughed so hard that their fat behinds jiggled.

Out of the racket emerged the question:

“Where is the host?” “Yes, where IS the host?”

With dizzying glances the guests raised their tea cups:

“We must make a toast.” “Yes, let’s make a toast!”

Somebody asked, “Is the host on a platform?”

“Platform?” “Yes, platform.” “Does a platform exist?”

“Over there on the right—that backward-leaning dais!

The perfect platform. What a great twist!”

The fervor grew wild as the party guests prated.

Somebody wanted to throw in a prayer;

But efforts to do so were squelched in a hurry.

(That’s what happens when there’s too much hot air.)

The buzz grew louder and the voices grew shrill.

The chaos mounted as the tea kept flowing.

From a distance the chatter resembled a hen house—

Depending on which way the wind was blowing.

As the party began to become monotonous,

From out of nowhere appeared the Hatter.

“I’ve brought your favorite food,” he said.

“A lot of nothing on a platter.”

The guests went crazy; the cackling continued

As they rambled on about nothing nonstop.

One whispered, “How much fun we are having!

Who’d ever call this party a flop?”

“But we MUST have sandwiches!” exclaimed the Hatter.

“These are made of baloney and honey.

Don’t worry; there are more than enough.

They’re very simple and don’t cost much money.”

“By the way,” continued the host,

“Does anybody here make sense?”

“Cents,” laughed the guests. “We don’t make cents.

We’re all about dollars. Man, are you dense!”

“But the hands on the clock do not move,” a guest noticed.

The Hatter said smiling, “Then answer my riddle:

When stuck in time and not moving forward,

How does the middle play second fiddle?”

But the guests were stumped; they couldn’t answer.

They were too caught up in the moment for sure.

(Besides, some of them found it hard

To distinguish deep thinking from cow manure.)

“What about games?” some guests queried.

“A tea party’s nothing without some croquet.”

“We have the ideal game,” beamed the Hatter,

“Called YOU Figure Out What I’m Trying to Say.”

The guests were elated. “Hurrah!” they yelled.

From miles away you could hear the mad squall.

“We love games that let us fool others.

This is the greatest tea party of all!”


By Bob B (7-6-14)

Meant to Be

“That wasn’t meant to be,” the grieving

Widow dolefully cried.

“How could one so young and strong

Like him have upped and died?”

In vain the woman’s family and friends

Again and again pursued

Ways to mitigate her grief—

To elevate her mood.

“You’ll get through this,” some friends said.

“In no time you’ll regain

Your stamina and strength,” they said.

“Time will ease your pain.”

She could not grasp the intricacy

Of causes and conditions,

Or halt the endless chain of events

Through wishes or petitions.

If she could probe beneath the surface

Of all that she could see,

She’d realize that all that happened

Was REALLY meant to be.


By Bob B (7-5-14)

Joan

(on the Joan Baez Concert, July 3, 2014, at the Greek Theater)

Stepping onto the open-air stage,

She who knew how to fight for a cause

Graciously acknowledged the thunderous applause—

An indicator of love, a gauge

For Joan.

—“Flora, the Lily of the West...”*

Her music carried me back through the years

To see a kid devouring her songs

Of love and promise, of rights and wrongs,

And entering new, exciting frontiers

With Joan.

—“There but for fortune go you, go I...”

Her voice—now lower—soft and smooth,

Gently embraced the summer night

With melodies that could calm or excite,

Powerfully lift one’s spirits, and soothe...

Thanks to Joan.

—“We both know what memories can bring: they bring diamonds and rust...”

Entranced by her compassionate heart,

I felt my admiration rise

For someone who always opened my eyes

To hope when things were falling apart—

For Joan.

—“The water is wide, I cannot get o’er...”

How many encores did she sing

With the Indigo Girls? I now forget.

Nonetheless, I’m in their debt

For the chance to hear their voices ring

With Joan’s.

—“Virgil Caine is the name and I served on the Danville train...”

Journeys continue; the roads may be rough.

Even though challenges always abound,

Let despair NEVER gain ground.

I’ve learned one can never do enough...

From Joan.

—“Gracias a la vida...”


By Bob B (7-4-14)

 *Quotes are from songs performed at the concert.

True Love

Jimmy Lee loved Gertie

From the bottom of his heart.

He swore on stacks of Bibles

That they would never part.

He loved her more than anything

In his whole durn life.

If things were very different,

She would be his wife.

He would take her everywhere

He could. Ain’t that sweet?

He’d take her to the movies

And then later out to eat.

He loved to show her off

When going to the store.

They had the perfect life.

Who could ask for more?

When Jimmy Lee went driving,

He’d take her for a ride.

It made him feel so good

To have her by his side.

And, oh, how he smiled

When he took her to church!

He knew his Gertie wouldn’t

Leave him in the lurch.

She wasn’t much for housework

Or taking care of chores.

She wouldn’t wash the windows;

Nor would she sweep the floors.

Jimmy, he did everything;

He pampered his ol’ girl.

But after all, his Gertie

Was his shining pearl.

Gertie always loved--

And it really wasn’t strange—

To spend a lot of time

At the firing range.

To Jimmy Lee that was

The epitome of fun.

Oh! By the way:

Gertie was his gun.

(7-3-14) By Bob B

Sing Out, Nation of Immigrants!

Sing out, nation of IMMIGRANTS!

Sing your glorious song

Of how this country was built—

Of what made this nation strong.

Sing about all the challenges

And hardships our ancestors found

When trying to build their lives

And get their feet on the ground.

Sing of the PERSECUTION

That drove them out of fear

To abandon their native homelands

And often haunted them here.

Sing of the Native Americans—

Of the proud and varied nations—

Displaced from their territories,

And forced into reservations.

Sing of our fellow Americans

Originally brought here by force;

Let the melody echo

Kindness and REMORSE.

Sing of the jobless, the homeless,

Whose families suffered the bane

Of a harsh, cruel existence

And here sought relief from their pain.

Sing of the countless refugees

Who fled from war-torn places,

Hoping to live in PEACE

In a land of welcoming embraces.

Sing of the life of the immigrant

Who faced prejudice and jeers—

Whose struggles for rights and acceptance

Sometimes lasted for years.

Sing of the factory workers

Who worked under hellish conditions—

Whose voices were long unheard

By the deaf ears of politicians.

Sing of the plight of the miners

Who extracted the underground coal—

Of the dangers that they encountered

As they worked in that dark, dusty hole.

Sing of the laborers from Asia,

Who helped lay our tracks—that’s a fact—

And to whom we showed our thanks

With the Chinese Exclusion Act.

Think of the German, Norwegian...

All farmers who tilled the soil

To feed a nation that took

For granted their sweat and toil.

Sing of those working in fields,

Because of whose work you are able

To place with minimum effort

Fresh strawberries on your table.

Sing about all of the workers,
Such as the ones that you
Hire to do the work
That you refuse to do.

Sing of the great DIVERSITY

That all people brought to this land,

Lest we forget who we are

And how to understand.

Sing of our immigrant nation

Before our memories fade

And we lose our self-identity,

And our actions become a charade.

Sing of the "huddled masses

Yearning to breathe free,”

And may others expect

KINDNESS from you and from me!

Sing of our generous nature

And let us try to fashion

A nation full of heart,

Built on love and compassion.


By Bob B (7-2-14)

Reason and Rights?

Supreme Court MALES in a five-to-four decision

Ruled that SOME corporations could choose

WHICH types of contraception

Through health insurance an employee could use.

One person’s beliefs having precedence over another’s

Is a message coming from the decision.

No matter how you feel about the issue,

The results will lead to greater division.

In observing the case, one really must wonder

If there's not a glaring CONTRADICTION

With Hobby Lobby’s pushing forward

A complaint disguised as religious conviction.

Certain types of contraception

Are the targets of said corporation.

But there seem to be a double standard

And a highly questionable justification:

They want to limit women’s access

To prescriptions on religious grounds,

But the greater reality discloses how

Ludicrous their reasoning sounds.

For Hobby Lobby, selling cheap products

Purchased from China is no disgrace,

Despite the fact that in China each year

MILLIONS of abortions are taking place.


By Bob B (7-1-14)

"The Poor Really Have It So Easy"

Many think that the poor have it easy.

Well, let’s see if they really do....

Ah, they must if you carefully consider

What they do NOT have to go though.

They DON'T have huge investment dilemmas,

Such as "Is my portfolio complete?"

Or "Will I maintain my financial status?

It's hard keeping up with the elite!"

The poor aren’t faced with countless decisions

That make their daily lives so insane:

“Which car should I drive—the Mercedes or Lexus?”

“Armani or Gucci?” “Which pill for pain?"

The poor do not have thousands of options

For health care, so for them it’s a breeze.

"Why do they need preventative medicine?

Emergency care should put them at ease."

Taking care of a mansion is tough,

So the rich always have a reason to grouse.

"The poor have it easy with just an apartment,

Or if they’re lucky, a ramshackle house."

The rich, having to juggle their money,

Are in a quandary, so to speak.

"The poor can live simply, for they get to live

From paycheck to paycheck, from week to week."

It’s hard to organize fancy dinners;

To get the best caterers, you have to pull strings.

"It's so much easier for the poor:

On food stamps can’t they still live like kings?"

Hiding millions of dollars is a challenge;

The Cayman Islands are so far away.

"For those don’t have the money to hide,

Life’s less hassle for them, you might say."

Tax loopholes are also a headache;

It’s hard to determine which ones work best.

"Those with no money don’t have to worry

Because they lack the funds to invest."

Just ask the poor: if they had a choice,

Would they be willing to make a switch,

And give up the easy life of the poor

For the complex, difficult life of the rich?

(6-27-14) By Bob B

If There's Hope, Then...

It's been said that HOPE springs eternal—

That it elevates one’s point of view.

Three cheers to Alexander Pope!

Perhaps my DREAM may yet come true.

I DREAMED that people worked together,

Eager to put their differences aside;

Their beliefs in no way clouded their reason;

And this happened worldwide.

I DREAMED that nations conquered hunger—

All people had enough to eat.

Everyone shared without begrudging

Those who struggled to make ends meet.

I DREAMED that tolerance and acceptance

Were the order of the day—

That hatred and discrimination

Finally both died away.

I DREAMED that people realized

The world did not revolve around them—

That their selfishness and egoism

Had only stifled them and drowned them.

I DREAMED that people loved the Earth

And taught their children to respect it;

In so doing their children learned

To appreciate it and protect it.

I DREAMED that anger dissipated

And that out of vengeance no one killed;

Wars became nonexistent;

Therefore, no more blood was spilled.

I DREAMED that people in all nations

Acknowledged everybody’s rights,

Pushing the goals of inclusiveness

And caring to amazing heights.

I DREAMED that our entire world

Worked together to vanquish disease;

Health care and housing everywhere

Were automatic guarantees.

Precious HOPE, I’ll hold you tight;

If my visions are mistaken

And the world becomes more hostile,

Then from this DREAM let me not waken.


By Bob B (6-26-14)

Please, Mr. Boehner, Don't Waste Our Time!

The Speaker of the House, John Boehner—

As if more important issues weren’t pressing—

Wants to sue President Obama.

Poor Boehner—I think he’s obsessing.

He says the President’s executive orders

Seriously and categorically erode

The power of the legislative branch.

Mr. Boehner’s heading down the wrong road.

If the President has to circumvent Congress,

Does it ever occur to Boehner why?

Does recalcitrant Congress ring a bell?

What about House gone awry?

Dealing with a dysfunctional Congress,

The President surely understands

That getting anything done means

Taking matters into his own hands.

Please, please, please, Mr. Boehner,

Don’t waste both our money and our time!

Deal with issues that move us forward.
That would truly be sublime!


By Bob B (6-26-14)

The Wannabe

Have you heard of the chicken

Who wanted to be a duck?

You have to admit that the chicken

Had a great deal of pluck.

Scrutinizing her duck friends,

She sought out the best model,

But despite weeks of practice,

She still couldn’t waddle.

“This clucking,” she said, “won’t cut it.

I need to learn how to quack.”

But the only sounds she emitted

Were still not a “quack” but a “clack.”

“I prefer to eat duck food,”

She boasted, and with that

She gobbled up all she could

And ended up getting too fat.

“Ducks are good at flying,

So it makes perfect sense

For me to try it,” she said—

Barely reaching the fence.

“That’s it!” she finally exclaimed.

“For swimming ducks are renowned.”

She dashed into the lake,

Flapped her wings, and drowned.

The ducks sighed in sadness.

Poor chicken—she just couldn’t see

THAT THINGS AREN’T NECESSARILY

ALL THEY’RE QUACKED UP TO BE.


By Bob B (6-24-14)

The Story of Skunk and Fox

One day Skunk said to Fox,

“Boy, do you ever reek!

I have to tell you, Foxie:

You smell much worse than last week.”

Fox replied to Skunk,

“Hey, you’re one to talk.

I can smell you coming

From way around the block.”

Skunk said, “Okay, let’s ask

Ms. Flower since she’s so discreet.”

Said Fox, “Yuck, why her?

She smells so sickingly sweet.”

So Fox suggested Pelican.

“Well,” said Skunk, “if you wish.

But don’t forget that he always

Smells like rotten fish.”

They tried and tried for hours

To agree on who could best judge

Which of the two smelled the worse.

Finally, Fox cried out, “Fudge!”

Then Fox went on his way,

Wandering back to his den.

“Don’t YOU smell good!” said the Missis;

She even said it again.

Skunk hurried on home,

Where he knew his mother would be.

“Mom, do I smell bad?”

She answered, “Not to me.”

A moral of this story

Is all about point of view:

Let others be who they are,

And be comfortable just being you.

Take with a grain of salt,

What others say or think;

And never let it upset you

When they tell you that you stink!


By Bob B (6-24-14)

Money Talks

Income inequality here

Displays a scary regression,

With the disparity now as great as it was

During the Great Depression.

When chief executive officers make

Over two hundred fifty times more

Then the salary of the average worker,

That is hard to ignore.

True, NOT all CEOs are greedy;

There’s a problem, nonetheless,

For as the wage disparity increases,

It adds to our country’s distress.

The destabilizing factors

Lead to our country’s fragility,

For it has a deleterious effect on

Social and economic mobility.

But nowadays wealth means freedom of speech—

More freedom comes with more money.

And multinational corporations

Control so much it’s not funny.

It’s ironic that we with so many resources

Could see our transformation

From being a powerful force in the world

To becoming a third-world nation.


By Bob B (6-23-14)

Obstructionism

"Obstructionism...obstructionism:

It has to be my favorite -ism.

So what if we have a schism.

Three cheers for obstructionism!

"Who cares if it’s wrong or right?

The important thing is fight, fight, fight.

I don’t care what others say;

But I'll be damned if they get their way!

"You have your cause, I have mine;

But still I have to draw the line:

I don’t believe in compromise—

That’s a word that I despise.

"My constituents voted for me.

I am sure they’ll all agree

That I’m the one who knows the best

When any issue is addressed.

"So we shut the government down.

There’s a jewel in the crown:

Knowing you can always guide

The folks to blame the other side.

"I know there’s a golden rule,

But let me tell you: I’m no fool.

It does not apply to you

When you’ve got wealth and status, too.

"I let lobbyists speak their mind

And with their cause I’ll be aligned.

(That depends on the amount

That ends up in my bank account.)

"How I love to filibuster

With ALL the effort I can muster!

Also, stalling—it’s worth noting—

Is good for keeping us from voting.

"It’s political suicide

To perchance forget to hide

Your real feelings on a matter

And not to indulge in senseless chatter.

"Please don’t think we are inept.

Actually, we’re quite adept

At killing proposals one by one

(And getting very little done).

"Obstructionism...obstructionism--

The next best thing to favoritism.

We have an ideological schism,

So three cheers for obstructionism!"

(6-22-14) By Bob B

Mr. Cheney's Dubious Relationship with Facts

12-9-01

That fact that Iraq is harboring terrorists

To Cheney is “pretty conclusive,”

Which indicates that his understanding

Of facts is PRETTY illusive.

8-26-02

No doubt exists, according to Cheney,

Of Saddam Hussein’s production

Of weapons that cause significant harm—

Or weapons of mass destruction.

8-27-02

Once we remove Saddam Hussein,

The gravest threats will cease.

And then, Cheney adds, the area will

Experience lasting peace.

3-16-03

As liberators we will be greeted,

Says Cheney; then he seeks

To convince the American people that

The invasion will last only weeks.

9-14-03

He says that success in Iraq will indicate

That we have struck a blow

At the HEART of the GEOGRAPHIC BASE

Of terrorists. (Again, he eats crow.)

1-10-04

Cheney insists there is a connection

On more than one occasion

Between al Qaida and Iraqi intelligence,

Which justified our invasion.

6-20-05

In 2005 Cheney assures us

The insurgency’s in its last throes.

How many more years did the war go on?

Everybody knows!

6-21-14

Looking back we can all see

How Cheney had strung us along.

Was it ignorance or willful deception?

Whatever the case, he was wrong.

When seeking guidance on Middle Eastern problems,

Let’s not make the same mistake twice.

Instead, let’s find more credible sources

And NOT ask for Cheney’s advice.


By Bob B (6-21-14)

Experiment Gone Haywire?

Overwhelmed by so much to do,

And concerned that things would only get worse,

God decided to reevaluate

And take stock of His universe.

“I know it’s small in the scheme of things,

But I have to say, for what it’s worth,

One of my favorite projects was

A little planet known as Earth.

“What a beautiful place it was—

Forests thick with towering trees,

Emerald valleys, golden fields,

Crystal lakes, and unspoiled seas!

“But, oh, my goodness, look how man

Has managed to the nth degree

To sabotage my work of art!

Good intentions backfired on me.

“Majestic forests: disappearing;

Gorgeous valleys: barren mounds;

Lakes and seas: polluted waters;

Golden fields: dumping grounds.

“I gave people ears to hear with,

But no one listens anymore;

I gave people hearts to feel with,

Yet feeling has gone out the door.

“I gave people eyes to see with,

Yet so many folks are blind;

I gave people brains to think with;

What has happened to their mind?

“Instead of helping their fellow man,

Out of anger they hurt and maim.

Instead of peacefully living together,

They fight their battles in my name.

“WHY is there such reluctance

To offer aid to those in need?

Generosity and sharing

Both have been replaced by greed.

“The measurement of countries’ success

Unfortunately corresponds,

Not to taking care of the people,

But to GNP and stocks and bonds.

“People also use my name

To justify their cruel hate.

Why can’t more see me as LOVE.

Now THAT truly would be great.

“They love to put words in my mouth

And claim to know my secret thoughts;

Then they try to control others.

People, you don’t call the shots!

“Having had so much to work with,

Folks should easily get along.

So either this was meant to happen,

Or my experiment went wrong.

“When considering the laws of nature,

I included circumspection.

HA! I guess that we can say

I’m perfect in my imperfection.

“There’s one good thing about this, though:

All things must pass. So maybe I’m

Going to have much more success

When I make an Earth next time.”


By Bob B (6-20-14)

The What-a-Mess-in-the-Middle East! Waltz

One...two...three...one...two...three...stay on the beat...

One...two...three...one...two...remain on your feet...

Oh, it’s bizarre and incredible how

We have gotten involved in another mess now.

Unfortunately, someone has unleashed the beast;

Look what is happening throughout the Middle East.

Iraq is continuing to deteriorate;

The situation is even more crucial of late,

With insurgents imposing Sharia law

In cities from which Iraqi soldiers withdraw.

Frequent executions add to the crisis

When captives don’t pledge their allegiance to ISIS.

Our Qatari and Saudi Arabian “friends”

Support the insurgents, which therefore portends

Big trouble because the U.S. and Iran,

Have considered a type of rapprochement.

That makes the Saudis and Qataris upset.

There’s also a problem: we must not forget,

That if we work closely with Muslim nations,

It affects our U.S. / Israeli relations.

One...two...three...one...two...three...where’s it all heading?...

One...two...three...one...two...three...see how it’s spreading...

Maliki blundered by placing priority

So strictly upon the Shiite majority.

His country is blowing up in his face,

And his rule will probably end in disgrace.

The Sunnis, the Shiites, and also the Kurds,

Are now dividing Iraq into thirds.

The insurgents plan to maintain control

By making an Islamic caliphate their goal.

As they fight their bloody and cruel civil war,

There’s more chaos coming from the country next door:

Syria’s situation is especially grim

As hopes for a quick resolution seem dim.

Extremists in both lands are vying for power

While the people are suffering more and more by the hour.

If all parties were less bent on cruel retribution

And put greater stress on a diplomatic solution,

Maybe there’s a chance that we’d see peace prevail.

Or would it be easier to encounter the Grail?

One...two...three...one...two...has wisdom taken flight?...

One...two...three...one...two...there is none in sight...


By Bob B (6-18-14)

Missed Opportunity

Situated on the sidewalk

With his back against the wall

Of Bank of America,

He stared. That’s all.

With frayed trousers,

A tattered shirt,

Worn sneakers

Covered with dirt—

He sat alone.

Only now and then

Did he look up...

And then stare again.

A striking contrast

To the passersby—

The Gucci dress,

The George Neale tie...

He held a sign;

“HUNGRY” it said,

Scribbled on cardboard,

Written in red.

His beseeching gaze

Seemed to convey

His hunger and pain.

I looked away.

Someone will give him

Enough for a meal,

I rationalized—

Trying not to feel.

I should have helped

The guy somehow;

Those imploring eyes

Still haunt me now.


By Bob B (6-18-14)

Just Don't Take My Gun! (A Redneck Love Song)

You can have my wife.

I’ll give up my truck.

I admit, without them

Life would really suck.

Take my riding mower

And my rod and reel;

And while you are at it,

Take my new fifth wheel.

That might really hurt;

Life wouldn’t be so fun.

You can take most anything,

Just don’t take my gun!

Come and get my tools—

My hammer and my drill.

Don’t forget to also

Take my Solaire grill.

I’ll part with my saws—

Dovetail, chain, and rip.

Take the whole tool shed;

I ain’t gonna quip.

You can have my kids—

Take ‘em one by one.

I’ll get by without ‘em;

Just don’t take my gun!

Take my fishing tackle

And my motor boat.

If you want I’ll even

Throw in my last oat.

Go on, take my Stetson

And my Tony Lamas

And that mantle clock there

(Though it was my mama’s).

Hell, take all my clothes—

Don’t bother leaving none.

I don’t need ‘em anyway;

Just don’t take my gun!

You can have my sofa

And my favorite chair.

Take my widescreen TV;

I don’t really care.

Go on, take my beer,

My freezer full of grouse,

My washer and my dryer...

Take the whole damn house.

I’ll give you all my tales—

Every yarn I’ve spun.

You can have my heart and soul;

Just don’t take my gun!


By Bob B (6-17-14)

Downplaying Violence

A sad and alarming figure

Has popped up in the news;

The more we ignore that number,

The more young people we’ll lose.

SEVENTY-FOUR school shootings

Have occurred since Sandy Hook.

One shooting per week on the average—

A horrible thing in my book!

But CNN’s downplayed these numbers

By fiddling around with their meaning,

And saying it’s only fifteen.

That has got some people screaming.

They say that some shootings don’t count—

That SEVENTY-FOUR is inflated

And should not include those that are fight-,

Accident-, or gang-related.

How shocking and totally absurd

Is that manipulative computing!

Let us face reality:

ANY school shooting’s a shooting!

Whatever your interpretation,

Something has got to be done

To keep violent individuals

From getting their hands on a gun.

Concerned politicians

Should send gun lobbyists packing.

But for that they need a backbone,

Or something else that they’re lacking.


By Bob B (6-16-14)

Responsibility

Wouldn’t there be a pervasive tranquility

If more people showed some responsibility?

Why, for example, can people sue

A restaurant—let’s say a certain drive-through—

After spilling in their lap the coffee they’d bought,

And claim that their coffee had been too hot?

Since coffee can be hot, why haven’t they learned

That if you aren’t careful, you can get burned?

This makes me wonder about the futility

Of expecting societal responsibility.

Consider the people about whom you’ve heard mention

Who amble along without paying attention

With their eyes and thoughts on their cellular phone,

Fall into a fountain, and then afterwards moan

And gripe about how it was stupid because

The fountain should not have been where it was!

This, too, suggests the likely futility

That some will ever show responsibility.

There are also those people in parking lots

Who leave shopping carts by their parking spots—

Instead of finding the appropriate places—

And then speed away as if off to the races

While the carts roll through the lot and mar

The paint job on somebody else’s car.

Again I wonder: is it a futility

To expect to see personal responsibility?

And another thing...ugh...I have a fit

When I’m out for a walk and I step in dog s--t!

All right, maybe it’s true I’m not hep,

And I know I have to watch where I step,

But tell me, is it laziness or what

That some people can’t clean up after their mutt?

Does it also to you seem a futility

To expect in others some responsibility?

I could give you another example

For believe you me, I have ample.

But let me step down from my soap box. Okay?

And do forgive me if I’ve been risqué.

You’re certainly not in the line of fire,

For I’m sure I am preaching to the choir.

My point today, which is easy to see,

Is about responsibility.

(6-14-14) By Bob B

Poor Iraq

Iraq has been falling apart

At a pace that’s horribly numbing.

When Bush sent our troops to the country,

Who didn’t see that coming?

Bent on blaming Obama

For pulling our soldiers out,

A number of politicians

Refuse to acknowledge, no doubt,

The previous president’s crafty

And deceptive manipulation

To involve us militarily

By feeding us misinformation.

When we pulled out in 2010—

Though to some it might sound naive—

The then Iraqi government

Wanted our forces to leave.

We’d trained Iraqi soldiers—

And also bear in mind—

We’d spent billions of dollars

And left tons of equipment behind.

Now the various factions,

Will continue to bring more and more

Grief to the unfortunate country

In a vicious civil war.

Militants and insurgents
Have increasingly entered the fray,
Adding to the chaos,
Which is growing worse every day.

Iraqi people will suffer

From the mess that was left over there.

What do you feel now? Anger?

Sadness? Indifference? Despair?

No matter how you see it

Or the solution you prefer,

You know when we leave Afghanistan,

The same thing will occur.

We can’t turn back the clock,

And much damage has been done,

So the decisions now to be made

Are going to weigh a ton.


By Bob B (6-13-14)

Beautiful Europe—2014

Ah, Europe! What a place!

We heard your beckoning call

And opened up our hearts—and wallets—

Eager to embrace your all.

The lush“Pfälzer Wald” of Germany

Is gorgeous beyond belief.

Enchanted forests everywhere—

I loved every leaf.

We took the train to Amsterdam;

Man was it a riot!

Marijuana shops galore.

And, NO, we didn’t try it.

The Anne Frank House is a must.

But wow, what a shock:

Bicyclists are ubiquitous,

So watch out where you walk!

Next stop on the Rhine: Cologne;

You cannot miss the “Dom”

And Roman ruins throughout the city—

You won’t find those at home.

After stopping in Koblenz

We continued up the Rhine.

Think three things: the Loreley,

Castles, and great wine.

Lovely Heidelberg was next—

A truly gorgeous town.

The setting from across the bridge

Is among the best—hands down.

To Wertheim then we made our way,

On the lovely Main,

And had cake in a German home!

Was that not divine!

On to Würzburg—our next stop.

The Residenz was grand.

And Franconian wine! I asked myself:

Is this the promised land?

Lovely Rothenburg was next—

A town that’s quaint and charming.

The torture museum was, however,

A little bit alarming.

O Bamberg, city on seven hills,

I’d be insincere

If I didn’t say how much I liked

Your pastries and smoky beer.

In Nuremberg we saw the court

Where the famous trials occurred.

And for bratwurst and the gingerbread

I’ll put in a good word.

The Danube Gorge near Kelheim

Was a marvel to sail through,

And the Weltenburg Monastery nestled there

Is famous for its brew.

As Germany’s oldest medieval town,

Regensburg is renowned.

And that's where the country's oldest Roman

Bridge can also be found.

Passau on the Danube River—

Was an elegant town to behold.

In fact, all sights along the rivers

Never once grew old.

The Abbey in the town of Melk

And Austria’s Wachau Valley:

Such captivating places as we

Neared the trip’s finale.

Vienna—such a classy city—

So much to do and see:

Palaces, cathedrals, parks...

That’s the place to be!

Our trip is now a memory.

(What’s more, it didn’t break us!)

Now that we have the wanderlust,

Who knows where it might take us?


By Bob B (6-11-14)