A Dangerous Game

RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: WAR WITH IRAN

 

A Dangerous Game

 

Our president is playing a dangerous game

The damage beyond our control

Soon he’ll be playing escape the blame

For paying the Israeli toll

 

There is no justification for war

Netanyahu is playing his fiddle

The mouse is using the lion to roar

Our soldiers are caught in the middle

 

Bombs and missiles light up the sky

From Doha to Bahrain

While we pray that no one has to die

Our allies are feeling the strain

 

The consequence of what we have done

May be felt for a hundred years

Wars like this are never won

Regardless of what you will hear

 

We have started a war we cannot end

We have answered Israel’s call

On a hostile world we can depend

Another world order may fall

 

 

Nullification

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: SUPREME COURT

 

Nullification

 

Never did I think I’d see

A Supreme Court so bold and brash

As to nullify the basic precepts

Of the constitution

 

Birthright citizenship

Is not a controversial issue

It is as basic as free speech

As fundamental as the right to vote

As essential as the fourth estate

 

But this court does not believe

In any of these basic rights

This court has granted citizenship

To private corporations

This court has poisoned the very

Heart of democracy with unlimited

Corporate contributions

 

If you were born in this country

Regardless of your race, religion,

Country of origin, monetary status

Or political philosophy

No contingencies or qualifications

You are a citizen and no amount

Of verbal gymnastics can alter

That inalienable fact

 

Beyond birthright citizenship

We now have a Supreme Court

And a chief executive dedicated to

Destroying the foundations of

Democracy in America

 

All Americans should raise their

Voices as one to cry out in unison:

No!

 

The Fourth Estate (Kenya)

RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: GLOBAL POLITICS

 

The Fourth Estate (Kenya)

 

When Kenya closed the fourth estate

It opened up the doors

It killed the right to demonstrate

And invited bloody war

 

When the people have no eyes and ears

The police will have their way

The people would be right to fear

A cause to bow and pray

 

Without the freedom of the press

The republic is in doubt

Those in power will oppress

To push good people out

 

The flow of honest information

Is essential to democracy

If you want a democratic nation

And not a cruel autocracy

 

There are those who would do anything

To keep their hold on power

But freedom is a force that sings

To break down a tyrant’s tower

 

 

Zohran Mamdani

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: AMERICAN POLITICS

 

Zohran Mamdani

 

The plight of the true progressive

Is that s/he is supposed to lose

Though we may become obsessive

In the end we’ll sing the blues

 

To the people of New York City

His message is heaven sent

He’s as smart as he is witty

He pledges to freeze the rent

 

We are all in this together

We’re the same in basic needs

We’re birds of the same feather

We reject the policies of greed

 

He makes no pledge to the wealthy

In fact he’ll make them pay

But he’ll work to make us healthy

Because there is another way

 

Though the days aren’t always sunny

For the man who lives in Queens

He won’t take their dirty money

But he’ll win by honest means

 

(Democratic Socialist defeats Cuomo

as Dem candidate for NYC mayor.)

 

ICE

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: MASS DEPORTION

 

ICE

 

ICE is the new Brown Shirts

The American SS and the KGB

A force buried in American dirt

From sea to hypocritical sea

 

Is this the look you MAGA’s want?

All jaundiced and diseased

Tired, ugly, bloody and gaunt

Beneath our desperate pleas

 

America the true and free

Has vanished with the wind

A land we thought could never be

A fortress built of tin

 

What happened to our liberties?

We’ve lost what we revered

Gone with our democracy

Submerged in blood and tears

 

Our darkest days will linger on

Until we stop them cold

The opposition must hold strong

The resistance must be bold

 

 

 

Cheerleaders of War

RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: WAR

 

Cheerleaders

 

Here they all stand

The cheerleaders of war

Lining up to lead the band

Outside the White House door

 

They cheered for Afghanistan

They cheered for Iraq *

They marched hand in hand

Their step always in lock

 

We no longer see

With sound common sense

With our soldiers in need

We’ll call defense

 

But it’s bold aggression

By any other name

A march of regression

A warmonger’s shame

 

How many must die?

We no longer care

We will not ask why

We would not dare

 

For when the missiles fly

We all must toe the line

When war becomes the cry

We’re leading from behind

 

* pronounced “ee rock”

 

 

Voice of Reason (Lost in War)

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: IRAN WAR

 

Voice of Reason

 

As we re-enter an era of war

As we begin a new killing season

We fear the horrors in store

Where is the voice of reason?

 

We are dancing the dance of death

We are following Netanyahu’s orders

We shiver and hold our breaths

We’ve crossed the civilized border

 

There were no real negotiations

We demanded total surrender

To a hostile and criminal nation

With its brutal and powerful mentor

 

Like those that came before her

Iran may not like her leaders

But the invaders will not restore her

Regardless of how they treat her

 

This is a war that will not end

Not today and not tomorrow

We will lose our loyal friends

As we enter a world of sorrow