Category: Breaking
Couplets for Justice
By John Frederick Kaufman 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 hide the whole. (Photo: Of Pieter Lastman, “Jonah and the Whale”, 1621 [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons)
To Honor Poetry on World Poetry Day, Help Imprisoned Poets Across the Globe
By John Frederick 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 Asrat of Eitrea, Dareen Tatour detained by Israel. To see what you can do to help, click on this link to learn more … Read More To Honor Poetry on World Poetry Day, Help Imprisoned Poets Across the Globe
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, to him, to him, to him, to him–to Him! (“Fake news” if he should lose, for truth is but his whim: He may have … Read More Couplets: “King of the Expedient”
PEN America Issues Detailed, Disturbing Report on China’s Internet Censorship
By John Frederick Kaufman The notion that the internet would prove an unmitigated boon for the spread of democracy and human rights neglected the Achilles’ heel of digital communication: online speed, reach and access can be centrally controlled, either by a few big corporations who make (and profit from) the means to transmit the stuff or authoritarian governments that control the wires and corporations. … Read More PEN America Issues Detailed, Disturbing Report on China’s Internet Censorship
Couplets: “Tillerson, late of State . . .”
By John Frederick Kaufman 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 . . .
Did Trump Dump Sec. of State Tillerson to Make Diplomacy and Human Rights Even Weaker Again?
(Much to say today in a small way, which reminds me of the poems I am not writing, a sacrifice I make in the interests of public service. Time to come to the aid of the country, etc.) President Trump fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson today via Twitter; if the Russians ever hack into Trump’s Twitter account . . . Or perhaps they … Read More Did Trump Dump Sec. of State Tillerson to Make Diplomacy and Human Rights Even Weaker Again?
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 elections . . . with their own dime Without the knowledge of the one was horny, Don’t they? No fury like a woman named … Read More Couplets: “It Was a Dark and STORMY Day”
