apocalypse now

Mark Esper saw no shred of evidence
to justify Trump's failure to consult.
This Soleimani strike's the work of Pence;
Iran-Hawks are ascendent in Trump's cult.
Our Framers saw this problem long before,
reserving unto Congress the sole call.
Executives are quick to rush to war,
while foisting off the costs onto us all.
America's been slow to come to grips
with Generation Joshua's dark scheme.
We--who don't long for Apocalypse--
are damned to burn in Pompeo's wet-dream.
Pathetically, the orange demagogue
thinks no one sees he's playing 'wag the dog'.

Alien

A cuttlefish with glasses for 3-D
will strike at prey that isn't really there,
when shown a movie splitting red from green
as well as any falcon, snake, or bear.
Darwinian selection gave them eyes
quite independent of the orbs we sport,
and neural hardware that might theorize
'though manifestly not the chordate sort.
As alien as any brain you'll find
A parallel construction link by link.
Our common forebear couldn't have a mind
but cephalopods--somehow--learned to think.
Such good ideas recur, time and again
be it in motile molluscs, or in men.

Great Game

Initiative's Trumpty's for the nonce
To move towards Peace, or choose to push toward war.
Rouhani calibrated his response,
Debris smokes where our 'copters crouched before.
Distracting press from Trump's ongoing crimes
Seemed urgent, 'though Iran posed no new threat.
The existential menace of our times
is Donald; no one's likely to forget.
Pompeo's singing Flynn's bellicose tune
and Hannity invests in making Arms
But Tucker Carlson's not that kind of loon
and still hopes he can mitigate this harm.
This child who doesn't grasp "diplomacy"
may drag the planet into World War Three

strategy

Iraq wants U.S. troops to pack and leave,
because we can't be trusted to behave.
Ironically, it's easy to believe
that Soleimani's laughing in his grave.
The Persians see our empire in retreat
they're well positioned to exploit the lack.
A Western buffer country would be sweet,
in case the Sunni Arabs might attack.
One martyrdom advances Persia's cause.
And Trump has volunteered to take the blame
his blatant violation of all laws
has handed better strategists the game.
Now, only Pence can save us from Trump's mess;
 he never should have played Zarif at chess.

signs and portents

Impeachment looms, the mobs howl in the streets
a frantic president feels  pressed  to act
as soon as he's sent off these batshit tweets,
he'll tell "his generals" they must distract
Americans from his incompetence.
James Mattis always counseled more control
but maybe he was secretly for Pence?
Trump found a docile toady for that role.
Rouhani's heard this sort of crap before
and knows that Trump is--mostly--empty noise.
But voters rally to a foreign war;
and Persia's eye-brow deep in jobless boys.
pathetically, the orange demagogue
thinks no one sees he's playing 'wag the dog'.

off with his hat!

McCarrick bribed a foreign head of state
a Cardinal sins with impunity!
Regardless what the codes of law dictate,
no prosecutor wants such enemies.
But Francis doesn't play Ratzinger's game;
he's unimpressed with wealth, and pomp, and stuff.
What's most important is to spare kids shame.
Lord knows, the Vatican's got cash enough.
A Jesuit well schooled in sacred texts
a chemistry instructor to the youth
wants Church intent on Love, and not on sex.
Obedience won't bend him from the Truth.
An institution married to the past
may face an honest reckoning at last.

new red hats

McCarrick crossed the pontiff's palm with gold
took no receipt, but gave a knowing wink
To keep investigations stuck on 'hold'
regardless what the prosecutors think.
Recurring scandals make the news again
as statutory limits get peeled back.
New testimony from the damaged men
attests long years of sexual attacks.
But Francis doesn't play Ratzinger's game;
he's unimpressed with wealth, and pomp, and stuff.
What's most important is to spare kids shame.
Lord knows, the Vatican has cash enough.
An institution married to the past
may face an honest reckoning at last.