loose cannon

the Wrath of Khan may yet lay Donald low
for disrespecting one of our war dead
attacking grieving parents' a low blow
regardless if your state be Blue or Red
Trump's latest tantrum scares the RNC
our veterans (plus kin) form a large bloc
they're less inclined to shower sympathy
on him than on the immigrants he mocks
both Mitt and Newt judge Trump's beyond the Pale
and isn't gonna mobilize the base
contenders up and down the slate could fail
if they ride Donald's coattails in this race
a party graced with neither head nor heart
is decades over-due to fall apart

loose cannon

the Wrath of Khan may yet lay Donald low
for disrespecting one of our war dead
attacking grieving parents' a low blow
regardless if your state be Blue or Red
Trump's latest tantrum scares the RNC
our veterans (plus kin) form a large bloc
they're less inclined to shower sympathy
on him than on the immigrants he mocks
both Mitt and Newt judge Trump's beyond the Pale
and isn't gonna mobilize the base
contenders up and down the slate could fail
if they ride Donald's coattails in this race
a party graced with neither head nor heart
is decades over-due to fall apart

bum rap

for many readers, "poetry" means rhyme
and meter's not a matter of concern
manipulation of our breath and time
seems too abstruse and nothing they should learn
Miranda bucks the tide (or "swims upstream"?)
his Hamilton's the wonder of the age
as if he'd dare each rapping fool to dream
that he might captivate tomorrow's stage
starvation's the more common poet's fate
the public hates to think, and doesn't read
we teach out children literature's great
but all incentives reinforce brute greed
they've barely time to scan the morning's news
and spare no thought to gratify the Muse

stuck

the Donald co-opted the Right's machine
and Clinton took it for the other side
the one's a charmless wonk, the other's mean
but they share donor lists and sinful pride
the menu's fixed; it's one of just these two
and neither's representing you and me
each candidate speaks for the wealthy few
who purchase access with each speaker's fee
we'll miss Barack, eight years now seems too short
while Mitch scored points by running out the clock
but if he takes a seat on our High Court
Progressive issues are back on the dock
'til Snowden comes of age to top the bill
we'll have no champion for the Public Will

sound and fury

Barack Obama ripped Trump a new ass
for screwing workers who'd built his estate
more evidence the blowhard's got no class
and thinks oppressing others makes him "great"
a bouffant fascist playing to the crowd
who read his posture, not his policy
who love to roar along when he gets loud
mistaking lawlessness for Liberty
degraded politics of taunts and noise
there's no advantage gained through sober thought
a brawl too childish for most highschool boys
in which one's mocked if he has not been bought
but 2020, Ed Snowden's of age
to run on issues, rather than on rage

gone

the circus cast-offs squat in vacant tracts
that automation rendered obsolete
when miners by the thousands got the ax
half Tonopah was turned out in the street
a destination only for the few
who spend their Summers carving up the sky
a ghost-towns heyday many years past due
that hasn't shown the sense to wholly die
there's room to disagree on what it's worth
this dusty wide spot on a desert road
gas station at the tail-end of the earth
where cars are written off if they get towed
now pray your driver gets you to camp base
you've worked so hard to reach this awful place

strange loop, strange trip

the PA squawks inaudible half-words
psychotic soundtrack to a subway ride
as senseless as the cawing of blackbirds
a vacuous unending phonic tide
was that announcement only in my head?
should I be up and exiting the car?
I struggle with a rising sense of dread
that I've already gone a stop too far
the Problem of Induction intercedes
I can't be certain of the words I hear
there may be no external aural feed
did that arise in mind? or in my ear?
each subway fare's a ticket through the brain
a opportunity to doubt you're sane