Smoke over St Petersburg

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: UKRAINE

 

Smoke over Saint Petersburg

 

The Russian people are tired of war

Though lately they haven’t said a word

They caught a glimpse of what’s in store

With the smoke over St Petersburg

 

Where there is smoke there is fire

The explosions can be heard

The defiance they’ve inspired

There is smoke over St Petersburg

 

The war goes on and on and on

In Kiev it’s an everyday thing

From dusk until the break of dawn

The drones and missiles sing

 

Yet they’re hanging on defiantly

They show no signs of quitting

They’ve shown their strength quietly

The Russians they’re outwitting

 

As Americans join the Putin crowd

It’s as ugly as it is absurd

Ukrainians stand bold and proud

There’s smoke over St Petersburg

 

They are enduring the assault

The endless missiles and attacks

We all know it’s Putin’s fault

Now Ukraine is fighting back

 

The People's Voice (Columbia)

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: LATIN AMERICA

 

The People’s Voice (Columbia)

 

Columbians will face a choice

It is not a simple left or right

The vote will speak the people’s voice

We must hope they see the light

 

Ivan Cepeda is the people’s man

He believes in social justice

With the government he’ll make a stand

They know exactly who he is

 

De La Espriella is the outsider

He claims no corporate sponsors

His appeal could not be wider

He is not your simple lawyer

 

Both believe in better healthcare

Schools and housing for the poor

Both claim their cause is true and fair

But De La Espriella favors war

 

A war on armed resistance groups

And prisons for the masses

Despite his vows of greater truth

He’ll forget the lower classes

 

 

Mexican Sovereignty

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: GLOBAL POLITICS

 

Mexican Sovereignty

 

Mexico is a sovereign state

We’ve no rightful jurisdiction there

They have no obligation to cooperate

With accusations so wildly unfair

 

We’ve indicted Mexican officials

On specious charges of collusion

We have fired a legal missile

A violation of civil institutions

 

We are not the hemispheric king

They do not answer to our rules

This is crude and open interfering

We are playing them for fools

 

But Sheinbaum will not bend the knee

To the man above the border

She will answer clear and pointedly

They have their own law and order

 

Our president should mind his own

He has enough to hold him down

He has found himself alone

With his feet on shaky ground

 

Newark Outrage

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: IMMIGRATION

 

Newark Outrage

 

The protests in New Jersey

Against mass deportation

Shatter the American dream

Born of an immigrant nation

 

Now blood has been shed

Under the banner of law and order

Discontent has been bred

The need to close our border

 

That the treatment is cruel

In all the centers of detention

It’s clear that it’s the rule

It is cruelty with intention

 

We have all turned our backs

After Alex Pretti and Renee Good

They are still on attack

It is time again that we stood

 

Against the brutal ICE agents

And all of their vicious kind

Let a clear message be sent

We will not remain blind

 

To the horrors that you bring

When you come to all our towns

The damage done still stings

We do not want you around

 

The Democratic Platform

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: AMERICAN DEMOCRACY

 

The Democratic Platform

 

In 2026 and two years beyond

What will the Democrats run on?

What will they take to the campaign stump?

 

First and above all else: Erase Trump

From the Golden Ballroom to the southern wall

His name and his deeds, erase them all

 

Next ban the dirty gerrymander

That mortal threat to the democratic way

Let voters deal with the lies and slanders

Let the people have their say

 

In a republic the filibuster has no place

A simple majority should have its way

An end to this senatorial disgrace

 

Let’s finally end these wars of choice

On the myth that might is right

Let the people of all nations rejoice

An end to the infinite fight

 

Then let’s get the cost of living down

We can’t take it another day more

We’d like an occasional night on the town

And a reasonable bill at the store

 

Let all who are able find work today

There’s a job for one and all

Full employment is the only way

To avoid the next economic fall

 

Let’s deliver healthcare for everyone

We tried once but it just didn’t take

Let’s try it again until it’s done

It is time for decency’s sake

 

Then let’s mobilize for universal housing

In a nation as wealthy as ours

 

Let’s end the era of doubting

We can make polutionless cars

 

Let’s refund science for the warming

Let’s prepare the best that we can

We’ve ignored all of the warnings

Let us finally take our best stand

 

Cuba Waits

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: LATIN AMERICA

 

Cuba Waits

 

The threat hangs in the air

The example of Caracas

It could happen anywhere

When there is no mutual trust

 

Now they wait in great fear

The beast looms like a terror

It comes nearer and nearer

They can hear the beast roar

 

They are not the dark knight

They do not attack others

They do not seek a fight

They would like to be brothers

 

They are different from us

They’re a socialist nation

They all ride the same bus

They all use the same station

 

They are not a democracy

That is a great shame

They are in essence an autocracy

And for that there is blame

 

Yet they work for their own

For the progress of all

They do not walk alone

And they don’t need a wall

 

Another war of choice

In our own backyard

Would silence their voice

It would go down hard

 

Vengeance

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: AMERICAN POLITICS

 

Vengeance

 

Vengeance is the beating heart of evil

He remembers when you gave a look

His vengeance is financial and legal

It’s the tactic of the worst of crooks

 

He despises all who went to finer schools

Who scored higher on the tests

He’ll condemn them for following the rules

And proclaim he was the best of the best

 

If you ever dared accuse him of a crime

It is etched in his stone-cold heart

He’ll sue you and take your last dime

That’s the genuine deal of the art

 

When realized his vengeance sustains him

It is sweeter than a waterfall of gold

No army of lawyers can constrain him

He’ll explain that your house has been sold

 

His vengeance is the key to his being

It’s more precious to him than his wife

If he’s on you, you’d better start fleeing

Vengeance is the love of his life