The Exclusion Act

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: RACISM

 

The Exclusion Act

 

The MAGA movement is nothing new

Its racist roots trace back

To eighteen hundred and eighty-two

The Chinese Exclusion Act

 

The Chinese worked as virtual slaves

On the transcontinental railway

The work was hard, the workers brave

They worked for the right to stay

 

Twelve hundred workers gave their lives

That the railroad might succeed

That America might grow and thrive

The working force would bleed

 

From the Exclusion Act to slavery

In a long continuous line

Acts of defiance and bravery

Freed us from our binds

 

We are a nation of immigration

It is foolish to deny

We rise above our former station

It is the center of our pride

 

All those who wish to push away

The story of our rise

From our birth to this very day

We have overcome the lies

 

The Ugly American

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: TRUMP

 

The Ugly American

 

He’d send Ilhan Omar back to Somalia

Because he doesn’t like her dress

He would imprison half of California

In fact, he despises all the west

 

His hatred is nearly palpable

Hide your head, he might explode

Of compassion he’s incapable

He lives inside a dome

 

Where no one every questions him

Where everyone adores

Where everyone is less than him

And no one’s keeping score

 

If you ask him he will tell you

He won every single state

If you cross him he’ll expel you

That’s how he makes the nation great

 

They’re all crooks and toxic scum

The ones who will not bend

They’re either crooked or they’re dumb

They’re all losers in the end

 

And he’s a shining tower

Of diamonds, platinum and gold

He holds the nation’s power

And no, he isn’t old

 

 

Smog in LA

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: GLOBAL WARMING

 

Smog in LA

 

We remember back in the day

Smog so thick you couldn’t breathe

A stifling layer of summer haze

From the great basin to the sea

 

California fought it back

It took years to clear the air

We led the nation on attack

We did far more than our share

 

Now we’ve lost what we had gained

The nation didn’t have our back

All our efforts were in vain

When the train fell off the tracks

 

Climate change is not a joke

The warming lingers into night

We’ve got to fix what we have broke

It’s a crushing fact of life

 

Does anybody really care

That what we’re leaving to our kids

Poisoned water, toxic air

We may have lost our final bid

 

 

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

 

 

The Silence of America

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR:  UKRAINE

 

The Silence of America

 

As Russia launched a devastating attack

Into the beating heart of Ukraine

Zelensky pleaded with the world to strike back

To make their collective outrage plain

 

London, Berlin and the European Union

Condemned the blatant escalation

The free world stood in communion

All except one lonely nation

 

The silence of America was loud

Like a shot in the quiet of night

Vladimir Putin must have been proud

He has silenced America’s might

 

The world must revise its alliance

NATO and all free nations

In light of America’s silence

They can hardly expect salvation

 

They know that this can’t last forever

This aversion to freedom’s cause

The nation from its roots is severed

Not forever but just for a pause

 

America will be herself again

We can only wait and pray

Greater than we’ve ever been

A nation that will not stray

 

 

Outrage

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: TRUMP

 

Outrage

 

The outrage is palpable

For what happened that day

The president is culpable

He will take it to his grave

 

He pardoned all their sins

Now he promises rewards

The story goes to he who wins

Those who lose lay down their swords

 

They have pulled a billion dollars

And over half a billion more

From the workers with blue collars

To foment a civil war

 

If he didn’t hold the power

He would spend his days in jail

Or he’d be hiding in his tower

Against his enemies he’d rail

 

But power gives you money

To wash away your crimes

You laugh as if it’s funny

You got away with it this time

 

And your party lets you do it

They cannot find their tongues

They pretend that they eschew it

Yet they hold on to that rung

 

(DOJ awards $1.8 billion to a

Trump controlled commission.)

 

 

The Jim Crow Court

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: SUPREME COURT

 

The Jim Crow Court

 

The Court has nullified democracy

In every way we know

They’ve embraced a white hypocrisy

In the name of old Jim Crow

 

They have decimated voting rights

Now they’ve hit a brand new low

They’ve pushed minorities out of sight

In the name of old Jim Crow

 

From Louisiana to Alabam

They’ve struck a deadly blow

The gerrymander diagram

In the name of old Jim Crow

 

They’re doing what they’re told to do

It’s the court of Donald show

We’ll all be pale before they’re through

In the name of old Jim Crow

 

They’re setting back the racial clock

Our discontent will grow

The Great Society has been blocked

In the name of old Jim Crow

 

Decisive change takes many years

Through sweat and blood and tears

The damage done we’ll never know

In the name of old Jim Crow

 

 

86 47

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: TRUMP

 

86 47

 

86 47 is not a threat

It is merely a request

Our president need not sweat

The danger could not be less

 

Seashells placed upon a beach

Is not an FBI concern

It should be placed beyond their reach

The courtroom is adjourned

 

This prosecution is absurd

Frivolous at its worst

Vindictive is another word

The DOJ is cursed

 

Have a little common sense

Don’t waste our precious money

When they ask where the money went

The answer won’t be funny

 

They did it because he asked

That is the only rationale

They would prosecute a flask

If it crossed the Donald’s pal

 

(DOJ indicts James Comey) 

Profiteers of War

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: WAR

 

Profiteers of War

 

They’re taking money from the Arab states

They’re taking money from the poor

They’ll take it now before it’s too late

They’re the profiteers of war

 

We’re paying more for milk and bread

We’re getting less and paying more

While the working world is feeling dread

They are profiteering war

 

His sons are gathering stacks of gold

His son-in-law takes in more

The nation’s parks are being sold

To the profiteers of war

 

They’ve got business with the Emirates

All the oil barons of lore

They are killers and degenerates

They’re the profiteers of war

 

We will never get it back again

All this waste of our resource

If you trust in God this is a sin

The profiteers of war

 

If you’d like to feel the hate

Get on board and stay the course

A dismal conscience is your fate

You’re a profiteer of war

 

May Day

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: LABOR

 

May Day

 

We’ve forgotten the working class

Though they haven’t forgotten us

In every line they come up last

They sit at the back of the bus

 

Every year our leaders tell them

It’s your turn to rise up

Take your rightful dividends

Grab hold of the winner’s cup

 

But every year you’re given less

The working class stays poor

They shake their heads and confess

We can’t afford to give you more

 

While they line their bulging pockets

And shine their silver cars

They amuse themselves with rockets

And aim them at the stars

 

The rich will never give a damn

Keep the working world in need

Let they live on toast and jam

While the rich compound their greed

 

Published: Workingman Poor

Litterateur RW (Redefining World)

May 2026