body politic

Melania had plastic surgery
but nothing could disguise that ugly lump.
Our Senate's gonna have to cut us free,
resecting the malignancy that's Trump.
For years, her arm's disfigured by this mass
that lately, starts to suppurate and swell.
By now, the wound's discolored, taut with gas;
she's doomed to surgery, if not to Hell.
Trump shits on foreigners, but his own wife
still condescends to take him to her bed.
She may be saved, but it will take a knife
now this carbuncle's ripened to a head.
Until his third divorce, she owns this thing
to whom she's just another bit of bling

bloody mess

Melania had plastic surgery
but nothing could disguise that ugly lump.
Our Senate's gonna have to cut us free,
resecting the malignancy that's Trump.
For years, her arm's disfigured by this mass
that lately, starts to suppurate and swell.
By now, the wound's discolored, taut with gas;
she's doomed to surgery, if not to Hell.
Trump shits on foreigners, but his own wife
still condescends to take him to her bed.
She may be saved, but it will take a knife
now this carbuncle's ripened to a head.
The clown who tucked her chin misplaced the cut
when what must be excised's this orange butt

This shall not pass

Murkowski stood, McConnell took the fall
like Gandalf hurled the balrog off that span
when citizens were up against the wall
our Senate voted with the better man.
In thrall to causes banished, but undead
Mitch fought against his own constituents
Sue Collins handed him his shriveled head
by bridging the inane Two Party fence.
McCain played up his moment on the stage
but--just as much--two women killed this bill.
He spared his colleagues from the turtle's rage
but when he's gone, they'll carry the torch still.
Our HealthCare's still the joke of the Free World
but what we've got, we owe to two tough girls

in, and out

The wife told Scaramucci to get lost
and warned he should expect her lawyer's fee
she'd caught him going down on his new boss
and didn't mean to be the third of three.
Mooch never learned to keep a civil tongue
his diction's less of Cambridge, than of Queens
the barnyard threats Sopranos might have sung
he never learned from Harvard's hoary deans.
The tax-break on the Lightbridge sale was sweet!
Mnuchin once you know him's a swell guy!
He never meant the guff he used to tweet
and piss on anyone who says he'd lie.
That pinky ring bought on the Jersey Shore
tells anyone who's wise he's Donald's whore.

Horatio

Murkowski stood, square in McConnell's path
determined to do what she knew she ought
unbent before the shriveled turtle's wrath
three senators, at least, could not be bought.
Beside her, John McCain did what he'd said
and voted with the Arizonans' will
it's hard to bribe a man who'll soon be dead
to vote against his conscience for your bill.
Sue Collins proved repeal's ultimate bane
the snow-job couldn't make her bend or blink
she serves the upright citizens of Maine
a lot of whom are living on that brink.
Until health's guaranteed in every state
there's work to do to make our country great.

You shall not pass

Murkowski stood, square in McConnell's path
determined to do what she knew she ought
unbent before the wizened turtle's wrath
three senators, at least, could not be bought.
Beside her, John McCain did what he'd said
and voted with the Arizonans' will
it's hard to bribe a man who'll soon be dead
to vote against his conscience for your bill.
Sue Collins proved repeal's ultimate bane
the snow-job couldn't make her bend, or blink
she serves the upright citizens of Maine
a lot of whom are living on that brink.
Until health's guaranteed in every state
there's work to do to make our country great.

who speaks for justice?

Trump's loyalty's a purely one-way street;
Jeff Sessions knew he'd never have his back.
The liegelord wants his fealty complete,
but underlings endure bizarre attacks.
No one would take the job had he inquired;
no one who's worked for Trump survived it well.
The few who haven't quit were rudely fired
by all accounts, this guy's the boss from Hell.
In all the Senate, Trump found just one man
to whom his ravings seemed a worthy goal.
'Though this one brought the backing of the Klan
they're at each other's throats, out of control.
A century of U.S. influence
is over. Now we'd settle for mere Pence.

disloyal

Trump's loyalty's a purely one-way street
Jeff Sessions can't expect he'd have his back
the liegelord wants his fealty complete
but underlings endure bizarre attacks.
No one would take the job had he inquired
no one who's worked for Trump survived it well.
The few who haven't quit were rudely fired
by all accounts, this guy's the boss from Hell.
In all the Senate, Trump found just one man
to whom his ravings seemed a worthy goal
'though this one brought the backing of the Klan
they're down and dirty, wrestling for control.
A Team of Rivals 'cumbered Lincoln's job 
but Trump's outsourced it to the Russian mob.

bad blood

Trump lives vicariously through his son-

in-law for whom Ivanka's not taboo

his boys are losers, but young Kushner's won.

At times, he seems to wish he were this Jew.

The fruits of his own loins are dumb as rocks

but think we ought to treat them like they're smart.
They fail as intellectuals, or jocks
devoid in equal parts in brain and heart.

His daughter has his trust, and she alone

can edit what he sends, and what deletes

but every Friday night, he gets that phone

broadcasting his neuroses in his tweets

Each Sabbath brings us further evidence

of Trump's whole kindred's gross incompetence

will you do the Fandango? III

The strategist who failed the RNC

still weaseled a position under Trump.
But his ideas were scorned as comedy;
Sean took the fall as Bannon's hapless chump.
Behind the throne, he thought he'd guide Trump's reign
but time and time again, he screwed the pooch.
The pattern of mendacity's the same,
but now, we're getting it from Scaramouche!
This little man with shiny lacquered hair
projects an outsized image on TV.
And Donald saw, 'though there's no substance there,
the perfect dummy made for Bannon's knee.
The cast's on stage to ring Trump's curtain down;
that tiny car's disgorged the final clown.

desires

Trump lives vicariously through his son-

in-law for whom Ivanka's not taboo

his boys are losers, but young Kushner's won

at times, he seems to wish he were this Jew

the fruits of his own loins are dumb as rocks

who can't be trusted to extemporize

their handlers try to keep them in the box

but can't keep them from tripping on their lies

his daughter has his trust, and she alone

can edit what he sends, and what deletes

but every Friday night, he gets that phone

broadcasting his neuroses in his tweets

Each Sabbath brings us further evidence

of Donald Trump's big league incompetence

will you do the Fandango? II

the strategist who failed the RNC
still weaseled a position under Trump
but his ideas were scorned as comedy
Sean took the fall as Bannon's hapless chump
To clear the palate after Spicey's reign
the media must douche and then re-douche
the pattern of mendacity's the same
but now, we're getting it from Scaramouche
this little man with carefully coiffed hair
projects an outsized image on TV
and Donald sees, 'though there's no substance there
the perfect dummy made for Bannon's knee
the cast's on stage to ring Trump's curtain down
that tiny car's disgorged the final clown 

will you do the fandango?

To clear the palate after Spicey's reign
the media need more than just a douche
the pattern of mendacity's the same
but now, we're getting it from Scaramouche
the strategist who failed the RNC
still weaseled a position under Trump
but his ideas were scorned as comedy
Sean took the fall as Bannon's hapless chump
this little man with carefully coiffed hair
projects an outsized image on TV
and Trump's enthralled, 'though there's no substance there
a perfect dummy made for Bannon's knee
the cast's on stage to ring Trump's curtain down
that tiny car's disgorged the final clown

looking forward

Paul Ryan shows scant sign that he's afraid
serenely sure the Russians have his back
the mid-terms--in his book--are bought and paid
unless Bob Mueller were to prove the hack
Let voters squawk! He does not feel their pain
defying Bannon's orders would take balls
the Devil owns his soul, and worldly gains
are worth the curses chanted at Townhalls
still, Democrats can't seem to mobilize
not being Trump was never quite enough
and annotating all his many lies
can't sell the Clinton platform built on fluff
until Progressives stir the working class
Joe Sixpack sits this round out on his ass

It's been a long time coming...IV

To gouge the SecretService on their rent
enriches Trump at taxpayers' expense
a flagrant, illegal emolument
diverting dollars levied for Defense
Jeff Sessions gives no sign he gives a hoot
his eyes are closed to inconvenient facts
way too discrete to ever prosecute
WhiteCollar crime, he's only tough on Blacks
our Framers tried, but none could have foreseen
this clown who'd use high office to get rich
not merely crass, but utterly obscene
who'd roll the Ship of State into the ditch
our Oval Office doesn't need a saint
just someone with a concept of constraint

it's been a long time coming III

To gouge the SecretService on their rent
enriches Trump at taxpayers' expense;
a flagrant, illegal emolument
diverting dollars levied for Defense.
Jeff Sessions gave no sign he gave a hoot;
his eyes firm-shut to inconvenient facts.
Way too discrete to ever prosecute
WhiteCollar crime, he's only tough on Blacks.
our Framers tried, but none could have foreseen
this venal demagogue out for a buck,
not merely crass, but utterly obscene.
Nor that our Congress wouldn't give a fuck.
our Oval Office doesn't need a saint
just someone with a concept of constraint.

It's been a long time coming...II

To gouge the SecretService on their rent
enriches Trump at taxpayers' expense
a flagrant, illegal emolument
diverting dollars levied for Defense
Jeff Sessions gives no sign he gives a hoot
his eyes are closed to inconvenient facts
way too discrete to ever prosecute
WhiteCollar crime, he's only tough on Blacks
our Framers tried, but none could have foreseen
this venal demagogue out for a buck
not merely crass, but utterly obscene
nor that our Congress wouldn't give a fuck
the revolution Jefferson foresaw
draws nigh as Donald flouts the Rule of Law

It's been a long time coming...

To gouge the SecretService on their rent
enriches Trump at taxpayers' expense
a flagrant, illegal emolument
diverting dollars levied for Defense
Jeff Sessions gives no sign he gives a hoot
his eyes are closed to inconvenient facts
way too discrete to ever prosecute
WhiteCollar crime, he's only tough on Blacks
our Framers tried, but none could have foreseen
this clown who'd use high office to get rich
not merely crass, but utterly obscene
who'd roll the Ship of State into the ditch
the revolution Jefferson foresaw
draws nigh as Donald flouts the Rule of Law

strange bedfellows

Trump lives vicariously through his son-
in-law who fucks Ivanka who's taboo
soap-opera sub-plots all agree are un-
presidential, wed him to this Jew
the fruits of his own loins are dumb as rocks
who can't be trusted to extemporize
their handlers try to keep them in the box
but can't keep them from tripping on their lies
Ivanka has his trust, and she alone
can edit what he sends, and what deletes
but every Friday night, he gets that phone
broadcasting his neuroses in his tweets
Each Sabbath brings us further evidence
of Donald Trump's big league incompetence

Upon what meat doth this, our Caesar feed?

The sedentary life's been hard on Trump
each year, a shorter frame must bear more mass.
The tailors paid to drape his swelling rump,
can't fool the world who sees he's just an ass.
While Vietnam consumed our nation's youth,
he pleaded there were spurs on his wee feet.
The Draft Board bought his lie like it's the truth;
his class is insulated from defeat.
Obama's still a paragon of health,
whose exercise and diet keep him lean.
But Trump's convinced he's sexy 'cause his wealth
attracts the bimbos who don't care he's mean.
This oaf-in-chief waxed great exploiting fears.
I'm worried by the fat between his ears.

keep that receipt!

The damage Putin managed to inflict
shot Hillary's ambitions down in flames
he bought a puppet no one would have picked
but now, Mike Flynn has turned; he's naming names
Akhmetshin studied with the GRU
and offered Donald Jr. juicy dirt
on Clinton's plans to paint the White House Blue
while Veselnitska came to drink, and flirt
Trump's throwing his own son beneath the bus
as if--like Bush--he's never in the loop
of Russian schemes to bleed and hamstring us
and Junior's just the Russians' naif dupe
How long 'til party elders show the sense
to trade this bozo in for merely Pence?

perfect

sous-vide denatures proteins, each in turn
'though it won't sear a surface like hot coal
you're confident your meal will cook, not burn
the water-bath gives anyone control
the hydrophobic sidechains from inside
turned outward, make the proteins aggregate
for lack of chaperones, this colloid's fried
the moisture content's lost as exudate
the lambchops that a beaver couldn't chew
we pray are relegated to the past
they're now a trifle anyone can do
cosmetic grillmarks only added last
the water-oven's more than just a fad
it saves ingredients from going bad

cry for help

Trump lives vicariously through his son-
in-law who beds the daughter whom he can't
soap-opera sub-plots all agree are un-
presidential, played out in a rant
the fruits of his own loins are dumb as rocks
who can't be trusted to extemporize
their handlers try to keep them in the box
but can't keep them from tripping on their lies
Ivanka has his trust, and she alone
can edit what he sends, and what deletes
but every Friday night, he gets that phone
broadcastig his neuroses in his tweets
I can't conceive what further evidence
is needed to prove Trump's incompetence

leaderless

For Putin, North Korea's bomb's a win
that blares in neon lights Trump's impotence
he'll crush that stubby paw and chat, and grin
let no one doubt who brings the competence
a world on fire suits Vladimir just fine
exporting Arms will bring a flood of cash
let diplomats swap lies, and wine and dine
there's profit building cities back from ash
the fear of refugees scares Xi at night
when Kim collapses, millions mean to flee
he's no our ally in this global fight
Korean fallout mostly drifts to sea
to play the man's more than this Trump is worth
no Churchill's stepping forth to save the Earth

suckers

Al Franken, for the Senate's awfully short
his colleagues look like they played basketball
then ran when they'd retired from off the court
Americans think leaders must be tall
for merit, height's a lousy surrogate
but anyone's assessment will agree
majorities place the same stupid bet
electing not a leader, but a tree
if Madison were running nowadays
he'd get scant chance to awe us with his wit
the legal reasoning can still amaze
but he'd be shouted down by some tall twit
the Europeans pray we'll grow some sense
in sorting confidence from competence

you don't see what you don't look for

cDNA treats introns like mere waste
what got spliced out cannot convey the sense
the information tossed in cut-and-paste
is disregarded in our arrogance
prokaryotic genomes gently bend
but histones wind ours tightly onto spools
with telomers padding out each end
our metadata binds the text with rules
the genes are counted, but what's in between
defines how tissues differrentiate
the caterpillar munching garden greens
will only later need to aviate
the information gleaned from any book
is circumscribed by how you choose to look