Category Archives: POLITICS

OVERFED AND UNDER-NOURISHED

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Pexels.com

Americans are overfed

on soft food,

pre-digested,

pre-prepared,

pre-packaged

and all but dead.

“Give me something to chew,”

they say.

Even a lie will do.

Americans have learned to

eat lies for breakfast;

for lunch and dinner, too.

They brag about feasts

empty of nutrition that builds life,

but full of calories bringing strife.

Offering such empty scenes

of family life left sorrowing,

of neighborhood crime fallowing

entire blocks within every hamlet.

Sitcoms no longer hold their attention.

“Give me something to chew on!

they demand incessantly.

A I might be their only salvation.

They have lost the patience

for solemn contemplation.

They no longer know how 

to take slower bites,

to savor a meal surrounded by family;

nor keep a schedule.

They buy modern on-the-go insanity,

even while waiting forever it seems

to order a vente-decafe-no cream.

Their jealousy at losing 

what others have not

now knows no boundaries

as they gobble up

the power that such losers corrupt.

They no longer need to chew at all.

They buy all the crap, having nothing at all.

Time to go green. Time to come clean.

Of course, we shall as soon as our screams

fade away with the plea,

“Give me something to chew on”

that is real, that is true.

Is that too much to ask of you?

Over-processed replies 

may be all we can get

from those pre-packaged politicians whose lies

overcome the silence of over-processed cowards

too scared to openly repent.

Chew slowly as lies melt in your mouth.

Lies feed nothing; cannot keep you alive.

Lies are killing a land of freedom once prized.

Leave a comment

Filed under POETRY, POLITICS

AWAITING SPRING

Classic Noru2019easter plowed up the East Coast of the United States [Detail] by NASA Goddard Photo and Video is licensed under CC-BY 2.0

The wind has ceased clearing away

old lies and false games in play.

New lies form and cling to every surface

and truth is once again surfeit.

Snow may provide pristine cover

until snow melts and we discover

one lie lies atop another.

Spring seems too far away

and each day we must wait seems unsafe.

I welcome any blowing wind that rages,

if it uncovers the millions of pages

hidden behind bureaucratic stages.

Sunlight always follows storms

which speed across a continent’s norms

and freshens the air we all breathe,

able to fill lungs eager to breathe free.

A cold wind is as good as warm.

Each wind has its own charm.

Both can clear the air and remove

what would cause us harm.

No wind today to grace 

what feels a very unsafe space.

So, I blow words across a page.

A warning wind blowing hard and truly

meant to make us all a bit unruly.

No place for Kings, I remind you.

We gather together, we too few.

Let the winds blow and harden our stance

to face and uncover lies which advance

the tyranny of greedy overlords 

who cannot stand up to truthful words.

Spring is coming, or so, I have heard told.

Until it comes, blow winds! Blow!

No matter how cold.

Leave a comment

Filed under POETRY, POLITICS

BIRDS OF A FEATHER

I envy those still able to place words on a page.

I hesitate at what I might say to display my rage.

Silence is its own subtle, harmful, deadening cage.

I refuse to become like you – a killer 

of all that is good, all that is free, all that is true.

I refuse to become like you – a silent witness

of all that is evil, all who are held in bondage, 

all of the lies which rely upon you.

I refuse to become like you – a sycophant

in silent praise of racist, sexist, xenophobic chant

by tiny minds, fattened by greed, with tiny hands

grasping for the sacred trust, and pedophilic lust

most hide from civil and moral view.

I refuse to become you – a lost boy

in Never-Never Land, fearful and confused,

afraid to grow up, preferring to fly high

above those you believe inferior

so that you can feel superior.

I know who you are; and so, do you.

I refuse to become you; and so, extend a hand

to help you settle down upon a branch of freedom.

It is weakened; it is true.

But still strong enough

with love enough

to hold us…together.

Leave a comment

Filed under POETRY, POLITICS

MAGA MINDS RACING

Getting started is the hardest.

Once begun, everyone runs

to be the first,

or at least to be 

in the crowd

that crosses the finish line

in record time.

Those left out of the race

try to keep pace

along the sidelines

never raising the question

of where they are headed,

or what they might gain.

They simply imagine

there must be a prize.

What a surprise 

to discover there is

none at all.

It was test to see

who would fall

into line.

Their pride is satisfied.

They feel superior

to those who are so inferior

they did not run at all.

Leave a comment

Filed under POETRY, POLITICS

OCEANS

I could become an ocean

If I unleashed the rivers of tears

Building behind eyes seeing,

Building behind ears hearing,

Building behind a mind

Buried in grief over what I find

Hidden within family and friends,

I thought were of a kind;

Who saw hate and felt repulsion,

Who heard lies and became disgusted,

Who watched inhumanity and scowled,

Who with outrage spoke aloud.

Instead, they smirk and smile,

And change the subject acting proud

To shut down discussion and discomfort at discussing hard truths.

Either they are in avoidance of discord;

Or worse, they approve of lies and hate,

And are simply happy to see hate flourish.

They are not the least discouraged.

I could become an ocean.

Instead, I check my emotion.

I seek to find some common ground.

Impossible when they shut all true conversation with me down.

Is this what pushes us apart,

a river of tears breaking canyon

walls of disagreement apart?

I could become an ocean

Washing them away as I allow

My tears to flow.

Until the valley of tears

Washes hate clear

And silts and nourishes the soil

That love may once again grow.

I could become an ocean.

Leave a comment

Filed under POETRY, POLITICS

GETTING DIZZY

I wait upon the turning point

Dizzy and disoriented

By its rapid display

Of reality asway,

Believing the transformation will soon stop.

And if I can hang on tight,

And if I do not drop

All will then become clear.

A new way of seeing the world

And connecting its dots

Will unite us all in every endeavor.

Not because we are so clever;

But, because we must do better

Or destroy our selves,

Dust to dust.

Turning points are dizzying affairs.

We must grab hands to slow its course.

We must focus on a single point as we ride

In constant circles, growing wide,

Until the entire world bounces by

And we all feel the brunt of gravity

As it drags us down past reality

Where the vaguest hopes reside.

When will this end, we ask and fuss?

Knowing how it ends is up to us.

If only the spin would stop long enough

To catch a breath, I could get tough.

It is dangerous to let go when spinned out of control.

The spin disturbs the mindfulness which makes me whole.

If only those who stand and watch would reach to pull me out.

But, they hesitate and obliterate

Any discussion or action

until I fear it will be too late.

What will they think and how will they feel

To watch me destroyed on the spinning wheel?

Leave a comment

Filed under POETRY, POLITICS

NIGHT TERRORS

Night closes in

tightfisted, grasping,

leaking tears from the sky

mingled with snow,

cold and deadening

of all senses, and all sense.

until we are afraid to let go.

At this hour dawn seems too far away

to make any difference at all.

Too much can happen while held tight

in night’s eerie thrall;

and bound thus, body carefully trussed,

will-power to overcome threats

has no power at all.

Words cannot fully replace fear

as unexpected threats draw near,

in dreams stuffed as pillows

embroidered by past ill deeds

viewed on media screens.

Knowing even worse lies ahead

who could remain in  bed?

It used to be we welcomed each new day.

Now, we stretch out night’s hours

to avoid awakening too soon

to hear the new day’s notice of doom

spewed by text and on X

all night through.

Hate will soon raise its head, right on cue.

Leave a comment

Filed under POETRY, POLITICS

ONE CAN NEVER HAVE ENOUGH

Photo by RDNE Stock project on Pexels.com…..or at least, always want it….

When did having enough

become having… too much?

Too much… to notice

the unmet needs of others.
Too much… to stop considering

all persons sisters and brothers?

Too much…to vote in elections

and engage in democracy’s protection?

Too much…to pay close attention to news

and recognize propaganda as our muse?

Too much…to keep our eyes open wide

to the manipulation of our grievous pride?

Too much…to fight for workers in unions

and buy American products in communion?

Too much…to protect all our children’s progress

from sexualization, gun threats and media stress?

When did having enough 

become… too much

to pause and consider what the future means

instead of what meaning we hold in our future?

We did not arrive in this time and place

of utter ruination and near-total disgrace

simply because of one man and one political party.

We got here all on our own, so sorry.

We  rugged individuals reach the top all alone.

We see and hear this truth in every tome and tone.

Overcoming all competition

without a need for contrition

that we forged ahead 

without dread

of the kind of world we were creating;

only self-entertaining with no room for debating

that there might be a better way.

In stead we chose to play

video games and  gambling on games.

We have no shame. We simply whine and complain.

Can we finally admit that it is time to quit?

When did having enough

becoming having…too much?

Our commander-in-chief 

has never learned that lesson

His belief mirrors our own belief.

It is bringing this nation nothing but grief.

When did having enough

become having…too much?

Leave a comment

Filed under POETRY, POLITICS

ROCK-A-BYE,BABY

Photo by Marisa Fahrner on Pexels.com

Get rid of the cradles.

Make America strong.

All day long,

the same twisted song.

No cradles for children sitting at their desk.

Run, hide, fight until your death.

No cradles for special needs learning.

Defund dollars which fulfill childhood yearnings.

No cradles for child workers at night.

Employ them younger and later, even on school nights.

No cradles for the hungry, the homeless and poor.

SNAP and low-income housing supplements are no more.

No cradles for immigrants, nor refugee asylum.

Go back where you came from. You are mere scum.

No cradles for a republic and voting rolls.

Gerrymander away voting rights, for sole control.

America is no longer the beacon of old,

no longer the cradle of democracy, so we are told.

America refuses to follow any rules.

The Rule of Law has become a dictator’s mule.

Americans are almost put to sleep,

distracted by fables, eyes nearly closed.

A nation of immigrants seeking their rest.

Too weary, now, to even try to do their best.

Their minds drift off as their eyelids drop.

Their minds close down as they simply stop.

Rock-a-bye, baby, 

On the treetops.

When the wind blows

The cradle will rock.

When the bough breaks

The cradle will fall.

And down will come baby

Cradle and all.

Leave a comment

Filed under POETRY, POLITICS

KILL THEM ALL?

Fraud plot in which some Somali immigrants participated? All Somalis are garbage so get rid of them all.

Criminal activity in which some African-Americans engage? All African-Americans are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Investigations and questions by journalists you find troublesome? All journalists are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Some women refuse your advances and sexism? All women are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Venezuelan boaters survive an illegal attack at sea? All Venezuelans are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Democrats pass legislation restricting corporate greed? All Democrats are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Military heroes remind military personnel to refuse unlawful orders? All military and veterans are garbage. Get rid of them all.

CEOs defraud, overcharge for goods and services, underpay workers? All CEOs are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Some White people commit crimes? All white people are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Some men abuse and rape women? All men are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Some bankers hide criminal gains, make money off the deposits? All bankers are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Hate has no logic except its power to destroy.

Hate has no reason except its delight in abuse.

Hate has no goodness in thought or in deed.

Hate is a damning influence and creed.

Hate is the one thing no one needs.

Some people hate? All people are garbage. Get rid of them all.

Hate until no one is left alive, no one at all.

Leave a comment

Filed under POETRY, POLITICS