Author Archives
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A Conservative Intellectual (satirical poem)
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Why I am a “bleeding-heart liberal”
To be “liberal” is to be “open to new ideas” and “favourable to or respectful of individual rights and freedoms.” Given the above definition, can a true liberal be a promoter or defender of that most ancient flaw of humanity–war?… Read More ›
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Three Poems of Ella Wheeler Wilcox
Here are three poems by a neglected (some would say deservedly so) Wisconsin born and raised American poet– Ella Wheeler Wilcox, whose late 19th and early 20th Century verse is full of rhyme and meter and “sentimental” Victorian optimism, the… Read More ›
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The Human Wall (a poem)
Because no one will pay to build His WALL– Not Mexico, not Congress, not even the Wall Street Journal or Faux News, not anyone— The PRESIDENT will send soldiers with guns To make sure Mexico does not invade. Nat. Guard… Read More ›
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As If a Cell Can Bar a Soul (a poem)
In honor of World Poetry Day Couplets for those who don’t betray The verse of stars, the vow of stones And meet the sinking sun alone– As if a cell can bar a soul … As if a whale can… Read More ›
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To Honor Poetry on World Poetry Day, Help Imprisoned Poets Across the Globe
By John Kaufman PEN International is profiling four poets on World Poetry Day now being held either in prisons or under house arrest for dissenting against injustice through art and/or journalism: Aron Atabek of Kzakhstan, Liu Xia of China, Amanuel… Read More ›
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Couplets: “King of the Expedient”
If Trump banishes Mueller will Republicans banish him? Offhand I’d say the odds are much skinnier than slim. It’s going to take some form of electoral disobedience To evict a president who demands we pledge allegiance To him, to him,… Read More ›
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Couplets: “Tillerson, late of State . . .”
Tillerson, late of State, was fired by a tweet From the president, our “moron” (cheek!) As he was called, reportedly, by Till- erson, undiplomatically, but still . . .
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Couplets: “It Was a Dark and STORMY Day”
Within the White House the forecast is “Stormy.” But the president swears that NOTHING porny Ever happened with that woman hushed With money that had NOTHING to do with slush. Lawyers pay off porn stars all the time Right before… Read More ›
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Couplets: “Trump’s Spin Cycle”
Trump’s Spin Cycle “There is no Chaos, only great Energy!” Said the guy trapped in the washing machine.
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Introducing Rhymed Couplets in honor of the Trump Administration . . .
“Tough Love” Trump will issue tariffs in “a very loving way.” (He thinks that we will love him even when we lose our pay.)
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Rumple Oxbridge: “Twitter Totter”
By Rumple Oxbridge, liberal lyricist I’ll say this much for Twitter: It’s Tr——p’s Achilles’ Heel. Eventually he’ll tweet something so far beyond the pale, almost every Republican will admit the news is real. They will stand before a mic to… Read More ›
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William Blake: “Auguries of Innocence”
[JK: An augury is an omen and this is a political poem because . . . today is Blake’s birthday and the poem details connections, relationships ecological and human we too often, especially in the halls of power, fail to… Read More ›
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Robinson Jeffers: “Be Angry at the Sun”
[JFK: Here’s a poetic perspective on politics some may call cynical, some may say stoic. Jeffers referred to his philosophical distance from people as “inhumanism.” This should not, however, be confused with inhumane-ism. Jeffers built a house of stone in… Read More ›
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Rumple Oxbridge: “The More War Sonnet for Afghanistan”
By Rumple Oxbridge, liberal lyricist Trump has a plan to fix Afghanistan: more war will do what war has not before. It is a plan not hard to understand his “war cabinet” advises–War fails? Try more. Eventually this war… Read More ›
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T.S. Swanky: “A Gun is Free Speech” [Satire]
By T.S. Swanky, an imaginary, confused conservative Civil liberties? Let’s just call them “liberal liberties” from now on. I was barely recovered from the shockingly disturbing news that President Trump and Steve Bannon were parting ways, when I read that… Read More ›