Loud voices
with their measure
No longer
deem to care
Our information feed
corrupt
With broadcast
millionaires
Stars masquerade
as journalists
To pander, slant
and spin
Truth to fester
in their swamp
And sink
— but never swim
(Dreamsleep: December, 2025)
Joplin was to Southern Comfort
what Hendrix was to smack
Morrison was to masquerade
what Dylan never lacked
Woodstock was to boomers lost
what music is to rhyme
Saigon was to those who stayed
what Auschwitz now reminds
Kennedy was to hopes and dreams
what nightmares are to some
Castro was to leftist thugs
what cymbals are to drums
Kissinger was to Nixon
an Appian Way to roam
Dr. King to civil rights
what kings are to their thrones
Walter Cronkite was to news
what context is to fact
Altar boys to feral Priests
what pretzels are to snacks
58,000 were to die
a wall would then proclaim
58,000 were to all
— what conscience is to shame
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2017)
It is an alternative fact, she says.
Interpretation: It is a lie.
Walter Cronkite would be horrified.
That she used that term on national television.
There are no alternative facts, only facts.
An alternative fact is a lie, a fib, a misinterpretation.
Unfortunately, as long as any station can use the word NEWS
Without checking accuracy or facts, this inane idiocy might continue.
No estate should be able to turn away health inspectors,
No estate should be able to turn away ambulances,
while bleeding internally,
No estate should need to employ so many muckrakers,
or bush lawyers.
No estate should hold so many water rights,
if they pour cold water over journalists,
who want to investigate,
No estate should hold so many gun licenses,
until shooting oneself in the foot is no longer endemic,
No estate should be given awards for mediocrity,
No estate should have license to print money,
to pay for influence.
No estate should be bereft of microscopes,
or access to an eye specialist.
No estate should hold so many contracts out of state,
to stifle competition,
No estate can survive without bread and butter
or an understanding that no freedom is absolute.
No estate can survive when it no longer sees the need to spellcheck,
and uses words covered in sauces past their use by date,
No society can survive when it has a fourth estate,
that no longer pays heed to the edicts of,
Walter Cronkite or his ilk.
Walter Cronkite,
Waxed erudite.
For fifty-six years he reported the news,
Trusted and revered for his truthful views.
Anchors without rancour are rare today.
They don’t just report rumors, they dissect some.
Men like Brinkley and Huntley, anchors aweigh,
anchors without rancour.
They steer clear of party-lines with no humdrum.
No newshawk floored CBS such a long stay
as Walter Cronkite whose candor ranks as plumb.
War correspondents, like Murrow kept at bay
and cleared away critics like so much pond scum.
Mark Levin at FOX deals much in the same way -
anchors without rancour.
To those who soak up the slanted slop from Fox
Isn’t it time you switched off your black box,
Or, changed to a channel espousing the facts--
All the things your "balanced TV News” surely lacks
I challenge you to listen to Maddow for a week
You’ll get some valuable information you seek,
Not slanted, but grounded in solid research
Straight from a foundation grounded in truth.
[Fox’s martini has entirely too much vermouth!]
Me, I prefer the Evening News with Lester Holt
Giving me a look at what happened today,
Letting me make up my mind on what I think
Not a bunch of talking heads leading me to drink.
CNN I don’t watch so much, I’m delighted to say
I like my evening news cut-and-dried every day,
I don’t particular like their “expert’s” opinions
I am perfectly competent to decide what I think.
How I long for the days of Huntley and Brinkley,
Edward R. Murrow, Walter Cronkite, and their kind
Who knew I can intelligently make up my mind.
written December 4, 2021
Sometimes,
the very best informed
remain the most naïve
Cronkite
in 1963,
“Oswald Was The One”
The Mob sat back
and licked their chops,
“Bobby’s Finished Now”
As millions mourn
in false belief
—and Warren to mislead
(Crazy Horse Memorial: Black Hills South Dakota, September, 2021)
Walter was so right,
In his fight for right,
While not too far to the right.
Walter was a shining light,
A guiding light,
All his weight behind the light.
His quotes right on the money,
But not for the sake of the money,
His eyes on everything but money.
Walter told us we need more independent news outlets,
Not a few biased outlets,
Or ones that give only those up to no good outlets.
But most of all we want more than one editing room,
More than one news room,
To give investigative journalism more leg room.
Joplin was to Southern Comfort,
what Hendrix was to smack
Morrison was to masquerade,
what Dylan never lacks
Woodstock was to 69,’
what music was to rhyme
Saigon was to those who stayed,
what Auschwitz now reminds
Kennedy was to hopes and dreams,
what nightmares were to some
Castro was to leftist thugs,
what cymbals are to drums
Kissinger was to Nixon
an Appian Way to roam
Dr. King to civil rights,
what kings are to their thrones
Walter Cronkite was to news,
what context was to fact
Altar boys were to their Priests,
what pretzels are to snacks
58,000 were to die,
what a wall was to proclaim
58,000 were to all
—what conscience is to shame
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2017)
I'll never meet Cronkite,
Monroe, Garbo, Einstein, Epstein,
Bogart, Newman,Truman, but
wish I knew what they knew,
known?
wished I'd known,
tenses and I pretend I know them
but
I haven't got a clue as if you
the last of yesterday
know or knew them too.
All the famous folk
they're gone into that sepia
we see in faded photographs,
no one here today to match them,
I
watch them play on Pathe,
inflight movies on the Cathay
line
even after all this time
they still shine bright
for me
Flipping Through the Channels
By Franklin Price
3/11/2018
Flipping through the channels
On this, time changed, Sunday morn
The network commentators
Politically committing ****
Presenting their agenda
Spouting their one sided view
To degrade the opposition
To see who they can screw
We participate as voyeurs
Watch the honored guests they slam
The truth is secondary
For the hosts don't give a damn
Asking very pointed questions
Elicit answers for their side
When not hearing what they want,
Their guests are taken for a ride
Verbal water-boarding
Not below the path they choose
To make their guests look foolish
In presentation of the news
Sunday shows one sided
Commentators rant and rave
Have no doubt that Walter Cronkite
Is spinning over in his grave
Joplin was to Southern Comfort,
what Hendrix was to smack
Morrison was to masquerade,
what Dylan never lacks
Woodstock was to 69,’
what music was to time
Saigon was to those who stayed,
what Auschwitz now reminds
Kennedy was to hopes and dreams,
what nightmares were to some
Castro was to leftist thugs,
what cymbals are to drums
Kissinger was to Nixon
what Canada was to home
Dr. King to civil rights,
what kings are to their thrones
Walter Cronkite was to news,
what intention was to fact
Altar boys were to Priests,
what pretzels are to snacks
58,000 were to die,
what a wall was to proclaim
58,000 were to all,
what conscience is to shame
(Villanova Pennsylvania: March, 2017)
Should Remember Walter Cronkite
By Franklin Price
12/3/2016
Should remember Walter Cronkite
Most trusted newsman in the land
He told us what was happening
To help determine where to stand
Reported what was happening
Embellishment was not his thing
Reported, did not make the news
By adding his own flash and bling
I'm sure there is a lesson here
For modern media to adhere
Report the news, don't make the news
I hope I've made this message clear
I thought we had a few of them
'Til this election came along
All the newsmen reporting there
Took sides, which was so very wrong
Reporting news no easy job
Research, confirm, and then report
Don't want to hear what you believe
Not a personalized retort
To regain your reputation
At least the one you have with me
Make an effort to be the man
That Walter Cronkite used to be
If you could only do that now
Your reputation you could save
Or maybe Walter Cronkite took
This type reporting to his grave
Cronkite did the talking.
Nixon started walking.
Through the rabbit's ears
we saw it all.
Windows down by cranking.
Kids still got a spanking.
Food stamps were on paper
not on cards.
Pryor told the jokes.
Everybody smoked.
Man things were different
way back then.
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