In Good Faith

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: WAR

 

In Good Faith

 

When we bargain with Ukraine

We serve as Putin’s protégé

When we talk with Tehran

We’re like a puppet on a stage

 

Trump has lost his dirty war

Vladimir is off his game

Netanyahu keeps the score

Every party shares the blame

 

We do not bargain in good faith

We make demands and threats

You can’t negotiate with hate

The wars are piling up the debts

 

In the end we’ll have won nothing

But a damaged reputation

To give it credence is insulting

Time to face the implications

 

That our leader is a child

Bomb the world to have his way

The laws of reason he’s defiled

For these acts we’ll have to pay

 

 

America Stands Alone

RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: IRAN WAR

 

America Stands Alone

 

The Middle East is on fire

The Strait of Hormuz is closed

We are balancing on a wire

Our president is loathed

 

Betrayed at every turn

Europe goes its own way

When will we ever learn?

This is the price we pay

 

Netanyahu is our only friend

The Israelis tire of his act

We all demand that this war end

Before the next attack

 

Another hundred billion dollars

To be thrown into the flames

The debt keeps growing taller

Just to glorify his name

 

The world has lost its breath

Seems his heart is made of stone

Mass destruction, pointless death

And America stands alone

 

Netanyahu's War

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: WAR IN IRAN

 

Netanyahu’s War

 

A billion dollars a day in Netanyahu’s war

The man has gone insane

As he asks for billions more

It’s the Middle East refrain

You can hear the lions roar

You can feel the grief and pain

And we know what lies in store

 

You have sacrificed your cause

The way the Dubya did before you

You have trashed international laws

The economy must have bored you

Now all you had is lost

Nothing will restore you

And we will pay the cost

 

Now boots are on the ground

In a war that never ends

Until a bitter truce is found

Though the wounds will never mend

The whole world hears the sound

On oil we all depend

And the markets will go down

And down and down again

 

Nightmare in Iran

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: WAR IN IRAN

 

Nightmare Scenario

 

We answered the killing of civilians

By killing hundreds more

In a contest of crude reptilians

How should we keep the score?

 

They’ve closed the Strait of Hormuz

To us and all our friends

When you “win” this war you lose

It has no foreseeable end

 

So the price of gas will rise

And economies will fall

As toxins fill the skies

So Netanyahu can stand tall

 

Our alliances are on the block

Our people feel the pain

Our enemies will not talk

Our relationships are strained

 

All because we chose a war

Without a solid plan

We still don’t know what for

We may never understand

 

 

War with Iran

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: IRAN

 

Iran War

 

“We wanted help.  We did not want bombs.”

 

Bishop Desmond Tutu

 

Of all the lame things this president has done

War with Iran is the topper of them all

He thinks because we’re bigger, we’ve got

  them on the run

But this is the sound of a desperation call

 

This is not some childish game

Where you remove them from the board

Deflect all sense of blame

And sound the victory chord

 

When you destroy the heads of state

You are left with mass disruption

You’ve condemned them to a fate

Of upheaval and corruption

 

Is that what you had in mind

When you declared yourself supreme?

Your policies are rank and blind

You philosophy is extreme

 

Iran is your last stand

At least let’s hope that is the case

What other horrors have you planned?

What other nightmares have you chased?

 

 

Bondi Beach

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: GLOBAL POLITICS

 

Bondi Beach

 

We mourn the dead of Bondi Beach

As we grieve the dead in Palestine

Mercy moves beyond our reach

There is no justice we can find

 

The Jewish people cannot be blamed

For the mindless vengeance of one man

For though they share a Jewish name

The stand apart on the Zion plan

 

Each man and woman on the earth

Has a right to their own beliefs

Each man and woman has their worth

And is entitled to share relief

 

When we seek vengeance as a cause

You can be sure it will strike back

If we’re a people of civilized laws

We can’t condone such vile attacks

 

So let us mourn all those who die

In the cause of vengeful pride

Let us condemn the reasons why

End the vengeance on both sides

 

 

The War Must End

RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: WAR

 

The War Must End

 

The people of Gaza are tired of war

The Israeli people must bend

Let the waves of hatred be no more

It is time for the war to end

 

The Russian people have had their fill

Too long the Ukrainians defend

Their leaders must swallow a bitter pill

It is time for the war to end

 

Yet Putin will never give up the fight

As long as his pride depends

As long as the people believe he’s right

This war will never end

 

The Israelis will bomb to the end of days

As long as there’s money to spend

Their destructive might is on display

And the war will never end

 

When the Russian people are ready for peace

This message they will send

Putin’s vengeance must finally cease

It’s time for the war to end

 

When the Israeli people are ready for peace

This message they will send

Netanyahu’s war must finally cease

It is time for the war to end

 

As long as vengeance rules the day

The wounds of war will not mend

Subversion will always find a way

And the wars will never end

 

Palestine

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: PALESTINE

 

Palestine

 

Recognizing Palestine

Does not make it so

Changing water into wine

Doesn’t mean our crops will grow

 

The people will not go away

Disappear into the sand

Just because the Israelis say

This is our promised land

 

There must be a give and take

If we are to live in peace

All accords will surely break

Without exchange at the least

 

Palestine must have a state

Israel must be secure

Eternal war will be our fate

Without a path that ensures

 

Palestine must compromise

Israel must find a way

When both sides choose the wise

The world will greet a brighter day

 

 

Netanyahu Stands Alone

RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: ISRAEL AT WAR

 

Netanyahu Stands Alone

 

Woe be unto Israel

Leave this man at home

You need not be his keeper

Netanyahu stands alone

 

The harm that he has done

The people must atone

Woe be unto Israel

Netanyahu stands alone

 

Vengeance is his mission

A bomb for every stone

Sewing hard divisions

Netanyahu stands alone

 

The death toll rises every day

Mournful mothers moan

Searching for another way

Netanyahu stands alone

 

So many dead and buried

Piles of flesh and bones

The burden you must carry

Netanyahu stands alone

 

(Netanyahu comes to the UN.)

 

Pariah

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: ISRAEL AT WAR

 

Pariah (for the people of Israel)

 

Remember the cry of Jeremiah

Who prophesied a cruel fate

You would become a pariah

For the sins of the Israeli state

 

You are descendant of Jedidiah

Who turned against the north

Who then became his own pariah

Whose cruelty called forth

 

The end of days for humankind

A legacy of blood and war

The prophecies will fall in line

As the Beast of Yafo roars

 

It’s time to hear that cry again

To heed that warning call

Repent for cruel and callous sins

Or the state of Israel will fall

 

No one wants to see that fall

Or to hear the angels moan

The crumbling of the ancient wall

When Israel stands alone

 

Legitimizing the Occupation

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: ISRAEL

 

Legitimizing the Occupation

 

The Israelis stand alone

They wish to own the Gaza Strip

The bitterness has only grown

Netanyahu’s lost his grip

 

Can you legitimize an occupation?

By force and strength of arms?

If Israel is a criminal nation

The world should be alarmed

 

The genocide will never end

If Netanyahu has his way

These actions he cannot defend

His path has gone astray

 

Good people of the Israeli nation

Stand up to this abuse

This is his reckless abomination

He does not stand for you

 

You are one step from condemnation

One step away from scorn

Rise up with righteous indignation

Or curse the day you were born

 

 

Moving toward Peace

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: GAZA

 

Moving toward Peace

 

The League of Arabian Nations

Has moved the ball toward peace

Condemning Hamas and October 7

Instead of attacking the Israeli beast

 

The UN has recognized Palestine

As an independent sovereign nation

Along with Canada, France and Turkey

We demand an end to subjugation

 

The Arab League made their demand

That Hamas lay down its arms

In exchange they demand the Israelis

Should cease and do no more harm

 

It is time that genocide finally end

This vengeance has gone on too long

On all nations we must depend

To right this horrific wrong

 

We ask the good people of Israel

To demand an end to the war

To your leaders we beg your appeal:

Let the genocide be no more

 

 

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

 

 

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

 

 

Starvation in Gaza

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: GAZA

 

Starvation in Gaza

 

Starvation in Gaza: it’s a part of the plan

Bebe Netanyahu: you’re the man!

 

You killed them en masse

With your missiles and bombs

Just to prove you’re the boss

Which we’ve known all along

 

You define genocide in all possible ways

It’s the cause of humanity you have betrayed

 

You believe this is winning

The mass devastation

The devil is grinning

At the curse of your nation

 

When will you learn this isn’t the way

The curse will strike back some dark dismal day

 

 

Hamas Must End

 RANDOM JACK POETRY HOUR: GAZA

 

Hamas Must End

 

Our hearts go out to Gaza

But Hamas is not your friend

Our tears flow like lava

This day Hamas must end

 

That they have let you down

Is clear beyond all doubt

Your voices have been drowned

Hamas must be pushed out

 

The destruction of your cities

The annihilation of your land

It fills our hearts with pity

The state of Israel be damned

 

And yet it must be known

That Hamas is much to blame

The animosity has grown

As your leaders have no shame

 

Hamas and Netanyahu

This message we must send

We’ve known since we first saw you

Both of you must end