New Poem: TALKING GOP IMPEACHMENT TALKING POINTS BLUES

we stay on message
no matter how much it changes
sing What’s Wrong With That
over and over and over
make light of crimes
we’d crucify Democrats for doing
say Ukraine doesn’t rise to parking ticket status
trot out our two insult comics
keep sending messages to the public
turn off your TVs
plug your ears
yell Womp Womp at holiday dinners
when lefty relatives talk back
>
but know this
some of us are as sick of Trump
as you are
>
tired of justifying his disingenuous
distorted disrespectful behavior
weary of waking up to the stench
of fresh burning trash
not knowing when the train stops
and we’re ejected from club cars
waiting at the depot in a strange town
aware no one will arrive

New Poem: LOOKING FOR THE NEXT BARACK

Loosely inspired by Colin Hay’s long-ago song “Looking For Jack”

media pundits looking for the next Barack
admiring Pete Buttigieg’s bomber jacket
waking up to read about Deval Patrick
some day, some way
the electorate will swoon like Chris Matthews

Democratic donors looking for the next Barack
someone cool, mostly unflappable
makes people rest easy after Trump
respects the markets and past trade deals
won’t raise the 1%’s taxes

some day, some way
a majority  will find him excellent
and they’ll cheer him, boo obstruction
drink in his aspirational smile
again accept change only in increments

Revised Poem: WRITING STAR 2019

I don’t want to go to parties.

I don’t want to drink so much

that I have to pull my car over

and vomit at least twice on my way home

I don’t want to approach Famous Authors-

only to have them ask me who I am

and leave me cold and unappreciated

as they search for someone more Important

I don’t want to be a Writing Star

I don’t feel like stressing out

and having acid reflux

over whether or not

I’ve been properly reverent

to Important local poets

I don’t feel like telling someone 

their work won’t amount to much

unless it’s published by a Real Publisher

I don't want to be regarded as a bad person

if I don't attend a memorial for a poet

who told me my death couldn't come soon enough

I don't want to be the kind of Writing Star he was

Pull the ripcord

Keep out of sight

Read a few good poetry books

Give away the ones I once thought I had to have

To make nice with people who didn't care

Be content with supporting others from afar

Cured of the egomaniacal disease caused by

Wanting to be a Writing Star