winging it II

the Donald's ego's bigger than the yacht
he liquidated in financial straits

he counts a man's worth by the toys he's got
convinced that what is shiny must be great

the latest model ornaments his arm
distracting eyes from his gross stubby hand
and from the rug that keeps his pink scalp warm
embracing not his body, but his brand
he's making it up as he goes along
without a vision for which he would fight
uncaring for the cost of being wrong
because he goes unquestioned on the Right
what fool would trust an army to this man
embarking a campaign without a plan

winging it

the Donald's ego's bigger than the yacht
that he sold off in financial distress
he counts a man's worth by the toys he's got
as if that were the key to happiness
the latest model ornaments his arm
distracting eyes from his gross stubby hand
and from the rug that keeps his pink scalp warm
embracing not his body, but his brand
he's making it up as he goes along
without a vision for which he would fight
uncaring for the cost of being wrong
because he goes unquestioned on the Right
what fool would trust an army to this man
embarking a campaign without a plan

HAL

the Internet-of-Things empowers spies
to penetrate our hedges and our walls
PoliceStates see the prospect as a prize
reducing citizens to helpless thralls
my toaster and my 'fridge don't need to know
who happens to be sleeping in my bed
if we're not free in how we come and go
we've turned the power-structure on its head
the private sphere's not for the FBI
to build their databases and log-books
they need a warrant if they mean to pry
into our lives as if we were all crooks
if we're to be the masters of our fate
we've got to shut this down ere it's too late

process

Americans are scared to talk of "class"
and so we banter visions of the State
no matter that the front-runner's an ass
whose backers only resonate to hate
as if corruption were the only threat
and--were it clean--we'd cheerfully agree
on everything from gun-rights to the debt
and what it means that all  Men are born free
our silence breed dysfunction and mistrust
it's not the way to know another's heart
alliances--if not preserved from rust--
when need is greatest tend to fall apart
so let us calmly reason, you and I
and not embrace each politician's lie

time out

Santorum ran again and crapped out big
there's less enthusiasm than he'd hope
his base defected to a fascist pig
who brags he's way more Catholic than the Pope
his moment's passed, the TV cameras left
they shed no tear for candidates who fail
a private citizen, feeling bereft
no more important than R. Danforth Quayle
self-publishing, he gives vent on his 'blog
explaining why this Pope's off the true path
but trolls just bait him to shriek "man on dog!"
and mock his invocation of God's wrath
the Press ignores him, 'though he's waxing wroth
pathetic in his corner, slick with froth            

what have we wrought?

our Founding Fathers feared a demagogue
could raise the baser sorts against the State
a financier who lives high on the hog
inciting citizens to storm the gate
an Upper House elected for six years
to quell the passions of the mob below
enacting more from wisdom, less from fear
deferring mostly to the status quo
'twas Jefferson foresaw the inbuilt flaw
however slowly, new elites would rise
entrenching their advantages in law
a ruling class entitled, but unwise
so now we face this shouting orange clown
prepared to tear the whole republic down

Tazria

a text about eruptions of the skin
and mothers made unclean for bearing girls
defies a Jew to find the God within
imbuing meaning in an absurd world
evolving ethics face unchanging texts
and strain to find a note that resonates
a sexist lens the thinking mind rejects
persists far past its expiration date
"divrei torah kilshon b'nei adom"
but passing years have changed both tongue and ear
Tazria clunks on Moderns like a bomb
evoking less "amen" than shrug or jeer
our future possibilities are vast
each rooted in rereadings of our past