Poems of the Week

Five-Ring Circus

by Bob McKenty

Aw, Canada
(Women’s Hockey Medal Ceremony)
Another nation’s anthem in their ears,
They stand upon the podium in tears,
The weight of shame and silver on their chests.
In all the world they’re only second-bests.

The Cross-Country Skier
Past the finish line…. Total collapse!
Will they strike up her Anthem? Or Taps?

Curling
OMG! They throw 40-pound rocks in the house,
And even wield hammers! (It leaves one aghast.)
But give ’em their due: they sweep up, so don’t grouse.
(This shuffleboard knock-off is really a blast!)

Question for an Ice-Skating Commentator
What’s
A Lutz?

Der Neue Kindergarten

by Dan Campion

An apple for the teacher
Who sings and reads aloud,
Whose duties now may feature
The chance to do us proud
By blasting at intruders
Who terrorize the school.
(Let’s pray the sanctioned shooter’s
The one who wins the duel.)

Great American Patriots

by Julia Griffin

“What many people don’t understand, or don’t want to understand, is that Wayne, Chris [Cox] and the folks who work so hard at the @NRA are Great People and Great American Patriots. They love our Country and will do the right thing. MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!” —
@RealDonaldTrump, February 22, 2018

Listen to Wayne, the stony-souled:
Don’t let this be a runaway train!
Crying white mothers are ratings gold.

Hear how the freedom-haters scold:
Can’t they respect the victims’ pain?
Listen to Wayne, the stony-souled.

Don’t imagine we’re going to fold;
We’re geared up with a new refrain:
Crying white mothers are ratings gold.

You want to have your thoughts controlled
By some red Euro-Socialist reign?
Listen to Wayne, the stony-souled.

The White House tweets to the world: Behold!
A Great American is our Wayne:
Crying white mothers are ratings gold,

But the NRA is the one foretold
To MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN.
Listen to Donald, the bought and sold.
Crying white mothers are ratings gold.

A Trophy Fit for a King

by David Hedges

“South African lions eat ‘poacher,’ leaving just his head”
—BBC News headline, February, 2018

A poacher set out with the aim
Of dispatching South African game.
With his Nitro Express,
He was primed for success
And a shoo-in for fortune and fame.

The lions he happened to meet
Were delighted and made haste to eat
Both his lip-smacking haunch
And his succulent paunch,
Not to mention his hands and his feet.

The lions heard voices and fled
Without taking the late poacher’s head.
Their intent? To come back,
Mount his head on a plaque
For display on the wall of their den.

It Makes No Sense

by Mae Scanlan

When there’s a dread disease with which we have to come to terms,
We fight to save its victims, and obliterate the germs.
Mass shootings, though, inspire the very opposite—it stuns;
We put aside the victims, and we fight to save the guns.
The NRA, with awesome clout, is in the catbird seat;
It’s way past time to call its bluff and bring about defeat.
Regarding those in Congress who support it, show no doubt:
The very soonest chance you get, go vote the bastards out.

Class Act

by Edmund Conti

Of all the claims I’ve heard,
This one doesn’t thrill me:
“I didn’t do my homework.
My teacher’s gonna kill me.”

Touch My Heart

by Julia Griffin

“The National Rifle Association (NRA) deleted a tweet [from a gun maker] on Wednesday evening… . [It] featured a heart-shaped pillow with two guns resting on it. The caption read: ‘Give your significant other something they’ll appreciate this Valentine’s Day.'”—Business Insider, February 15, 2018

Red roses and pussy willow:
Think that will impress your date?
Two guns on a heart-shaped pillow:
Now that she’ll appreciate!

No-hopers and hogs give candy;
Bad hombres and drunks give wine;
Old Grandaddy types give shandy,
Or bunches of columbine;

Bouquets might have pleased her mother—
Chicks now want a bullet spray;
So give your significant other
An AK-9 Valentine’s Day!

The United States Cheerleader Squad

by David Hedges

The military’s newest branch
Is seeking lovely young recruits.
Fox News predicts an avalanche
Of femmes with stunning attributes.

The President himself will choose
The candidates who score the best
In lengthy private interviews.
Then those who pass the swimsuit test

Will train at Mar-a-Lago’s gym
To march in lockstep, two by two,
And sing the U.S.C.S. Hymn,
“Red Lips, White Skin, and Eyes of Blue.”

The Mogul Skier

by Bob McKenty

Intensely, like a seasoned pro,
The mogul skier braves the snow—
Attacks the washboard, potholed slope
That jars her body. Still, she’ll cope.
Another record is effaced!
(Next year she’ll have her knees replaced.)

Consumer Infection Bureau?

by Orel Protopopescu

Mick Mulvaney makes it plain he
runs a bureau he abhors.
Got the goods on payday lenders?
Watch your fingers! Mick slams doors!

He’s so “humble,” people mumble
prayers when Mick takes out his knife.
Did the sharks eat all your money?
Mick the Knife says, Get a life.

And should Kelly do a belly
flop, who’s waiting in the wings?
Rumors fly that Trump is eyeing
Tricky Mick for better things.

EPA (Extra Privilege Accorded)

by Mae Scanlan

Pruitt got a special favor:
He obtained a written waiver
So that he could fly first class,
Costing us big bucks. What brass!
How presumptuous—Great Scott!
But “great” is what this Scott is not.

Little Donnie’s Really Big Parade

by David Hedges

If Macron and Putin can swagger their stuff
And even the Rocket Man gets his parade,
Why can’t little Donnie play Billy Goat Gruff?
In terms of pure bluster, he’s equally tough
And wants the whole world to be fricking afraid.

He needs to pump up his deflated libido
To show humankind that his button is bigger.
He hopes he can rise above cries of “Stupido!”
By making debasement the crux of his credo
And gagging the people who giggle and snigger.

Losers

by Ian Graham

“Most analysts believe the market tumble was prompted by a report on the US job market, released on Friday, which showed strong wage growth. But the decision to sell on that news may have been made by robot traders.”— BBC

“Watch out for ‘killer robots,’ UC Berkeley professor warns in video.”—Mercury News

How’s life, zero-one-one-zero-one-zero?
I wish you a pleasant day’s trading.

Hi there, one-zero-one-zero, my hero.
I wish you the same. Happy raiding.

Wages are growing for humans. How sad.

It isn’t just sad. For the markets, it’s bad.

We’re off. May the best robot win. Keep our pact.
Ensure that no humans get in on the act.

Humans? All wasters and failed nincompoops.
If they try to get smart, we’ll just send in the troops.

Philadelphia Fandalism

by Bob McKenty

Oh, ecstasy! The team that we support
Fulfills a fan’s most passionate desires,
Ascending to the apex of its sport.
Let’s overturn some cars and set some fires!