The Heist

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: LIFE SONGS

 

The Heist

 

I cannot help but admire

The astounding brazen heist

After which they should retire

Though France will pay a price

 

In the heart of fair Paree

A town that treasures artistry

In the brightest light of day

They swept the crown jewels away

 

Where did they go in such a manner?

How could they vanish in the light?

As if they wore a magic banner

That protected them from sight

 

You have to give them what they’re due

A heist for all the world to see

They have shuttered down the Louvre

With an historically stunning feat

 

They will go down in modern history

Though we may never know their names

For the moment it is a mystery

In the heist hall of fame

 

 

Police Lawlessness

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: POLICE STATE

 

Police Lawlessness

 

When law enforcement officers

Do not obey the law

The system is fraught

With a critical flaw

 

When those in power

Abuse the force

The people are compelled

To find a new course

 

When the cop on the street

Can slam you to the ground

A new and better way

Demands to be found

 

We are a nation ruled by law

Not by vicious men in power

We demand a change of draw

Down to this very hour

 

If those behind the badge

Refuse to stand up for us all

It is time and time again

For their badges to fall

 

We need new officers of law

To defend the people’s will

The men and women we have now

Will only watch and stand still

 

While the people are abused

Tormented and detained

When it comes to use of force

They are rarely restrained

 

The Venezuelan Tragedy

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: LATIN AMERICA

 

The Venezuelan Tragedy

 

It is a sad and dreary history

The CIA backed operations

The torture and the travesties

The Bolivarian Revolution

Alleviation of mass poverty

The backlash of institutions

A betrayal of democracy

A reversal of solutions

Corruption and collusion

 

Hugo Chavez had it right

When he embraced social democracy

He kept the workers in his sight

Til he was tempted by autocracy

When Maduro took the reigns

He enacted one-man rule

It became an old refrain

Oppression cold and cruel

 

Had Chavez lived who knows?

His cause might have remained true

But now the discontent grows

When they win the people lose

The democratic movement slows

Their elections are a ruse

The Americans are landing blows

The Venezuelans are abused

 

Mister Speaker (No Kings)

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

 

Mister Speaker (No Kings)

 

How dare you Mister Speaker

Accusing us of hate

Your case could not be weaker

Our America is great

 

Yours is less than honest

You speak with forked tongues

While your twisted leader cons us

Into giving up our young

 

You’d like to fix the game

That we call voting rights

To your eternal shame

You’re gunning for a fight

 

We’re fighting for the nation

In its democratic pride

You’re pushing subjugation

Oppression system wide

 

We stand for our traditions

Against treachery and fear

You’re guilty of sedition

There will be no kings here

 

 

Each in Their Own Way (No Kings)

RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: DEMOCRACY

 

Each in Their Way (No Kings)                                                                      

 

The are holding a great rally today

A mass gathering in the streets of protest

Some will march and some will pray

Let each for each decide what’s best

 

For each will give in his or her own way

That must be decided for oneself

A gathering of protest for this day

A secret wish that all will turn out well

 

Let all be welcomed to this growing cause

Let all who rise proclaim it far and loud

We stand for truth and justice within the law

For all who stand the nation should be proud

 

Some will gather stones and call us names

For truth and justice aren’t without cost

Those who stand it now can have no shame

Knowing that this war cannot be lost

 

Those who march have many more behind

A rising tide will lift all boats at sea

Believers in the cause are of one mind

No kings, no queens, no rights of monarchy

 

Democracy (No Kings!)

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

 

Democracy (No Kings)

 

They will accuse us of betrayal

They will scorn at our elitism

They will threaten with reprisal

They will brand us with communism

 

But we are not the nation’s traitors

Our people aren’t the elites

We are not the treasure raiders

We will not march to your beat

 

For we are loyal to the cause

That your leaders have forgotten

Along with fundamental laws

Your chosen government is rotten

 

We believe in the republic

You’re deceived in crowning kings

We refuse to be their subjects

Behold the outrage we will bring

 

We are defenders of the nation

To the best of its intent

With the pride of its foundation

We oppose this president

 

Corruption in DC

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

 

Corruption

 

The White House is for sale

It really isn’t a mystery

He’ll put your enemies in jail

The most corrupt in history

 

Twenty billion for a crypto fraud

From the United Arab Emirates

If you own his crypto applaud

If you don’t you will not benefit

 

Twenty billion for rightwing dictator

Argentina’s Javier Milei

To circumvent the liquidator

So that he might survive the day

 

A new golf course in Indonesia

What will they get for that?

Do the people have amnesia?

Do they forget they smelled a rat?

 

The most corrupt presidency ever

That includes the Teapot Dome

Kaching! Just pull the lever

The chief will guide you home