fish or cut bait

The Europeans told Theresa May
at any time, she's welcome to retract
her BREXIT letter, but she can't delay
she's dithered far too long, it's time to act.
Bob Mercer spent a wad to engineer
the semblance of a nationalist surge.
And pensioners turned out to vote their fear
that Britons and the Muslim horde might merge.
But integration works for younger Brits
and bankers know it's cold for those outside.
They love to hit the slopes at St. Moritz,
and don't mean Brighton when they bask sea-side.
Kant's European Project wins a round
as BREXITEERs' pet project's going down

Square Deal

O'Rourke brings elevated tone, and poise;
it's substance that his presentations lack.
Once voters look beyond the charm and noise,
he won't stand out from 2020's pack.
Ms. Clinton ran a vacuous campaign;
as next-in-line, she felt it can't be tough. 
But she can't sell us Bill's "I feel your pain",
and being just not-Trump was not enough.
A new Ted Roosevelt is over-due
to give our Workers dignity and voice.
McCarthy's dead, we're primed for something new.
Liz Warren's running as the people's choice.
"Each generation" Jefferson foretold
must innovate, or shrivel in the cold.

Pekudei

The author hereinafter known as "P"
would set the Temple ritual in stone
asserting he's the sole authority
as if at Sinai, he'd been there alone.
But Torah texts preserve another voice;
our Patriarchs did sacrifice their way.
A Jew must endlessly confront this choice
if he reads ev'ry verse of Pekudei.
Nadav and Abihu ad lib their role
presuming Moshe'd set the precedent.
But cohanim are zealots for control,
insisting they know what God surely meant.
It's perilous for priests to innovate
if they don't wish to share the fatling's fate.

secrets

His father urged Mike Cohen to reject
Trump's tainted money and accept his shame.
That gonif's no one honest men respect;
to do his business soils the Cohen name.
Elijah Cummings branded his a "snitch"
who airs his capo's dealings to the court.
Inside, it doesn't matter he'd been rich;
his prison life look nasty, brutish, short.
What's left, that he's still eager to conceal
that blocked his bid for full immunity?
The Southern District dangled the full deal
but still, he's blocking for Sean Hannity.
It's less than clear what all of this will mean
as Trump confronts his wannabe John Dean

appropriations

No bogus "crisis" justifies these funds;
appropriations ain't for Trump to call.
Like Reagan hooking Contras up with guns,
if Congress disapproves, there'll be no Wall.
Tripartite government bears the attacks
as week by week, what had been bad gets worse.
What Caesar seizes, he ain't giving back
and Trumpty craves the Power of the Purse.
Three branches constitute a stable stool
if senators have spine enough to stand
like vertebrates, but Mitch is Donald's tool
who rarely pokes his snout above the sand.
A Unified Executive's the thing
our Founders fought to rid us of a king.

talking 'bout a revolution

"Emergency!" Trump bleats; McConnell folds
No spine sustains him in his turtle shell.
Obsequious to do as he's been told,
where better men have steel, Mitch has weak gel.
What Caesar's seized, he's never giving back;
like Rome's this Senate's impotent as smoke.
He'll stage a Reichstag fire as an "attack"
and Breitbart will pretend it's not a joke.
We need Supreme Court justices, of course
whom one Branch nominates, and one confirms.
But when said nominee's the ruler's horse,
the nascent revolution's come full-term.
"Each generation" Jefferson foresaw
must craft its ordered cosmos from the mud.
To write its Constitution, make its Law,
won't be achieved except through sweat, and blood.
The time has come for patriots to rise; 
Democracy's a farce if built on lies.

glimmer

The very stones lament the missing elves
in dialects of quartz, and amethyst.
Fair artisans, who'd buff, and etch, and delve
long ages since sought refuge in the West.
Galadriel alone still haunts this shore
one mighty Noldo fighting the good fight
the distaff heir of shining Feanor
to nurture one last glint of primal Light.
No ancient hero holds the Hobbit's hand
It's improvise or die on the big stage.
The Wise can't guide, the doughty can't command.
Adulthood's a rude shock in any age.
No stone denies the LittleFolk's great worth;
rare gems among the folks of MiddleEarth.