Russia outproduced the U.S. in artillery, in industry for war
The targets were in Ukraine, deaths that we deplore
The Russians haven't used nukes, Putin didn't allow
The missiles hit in another hemisphere:
for now.
China fortifies its island chains across the southern sea,
Building silos where nuke missiles will be.
It demands Taiwan, it hopes we will kowtow.
A buildup like we've never seen:
for now.
Jihadis rule Afghanistan and Syria too
Imposing in Africa a different world view
Nobody to stop them, will West Africa bow?
I might as well plant begonias:
for now.
Jews have been killed for being Zionist
I have to hope I'm not on some list
I see violence on TV, no sword into a plow
And the raging ocean laps my toes:
For now:
I try to maintain balance on a rope
It's not that I have a false hope
There are bills to pay, paths to wander
Limited time that I don't want to squander
I dread "now" when it finally becomes "then"?
When the storm front faces, when the bear leaves the den.
When we have to fight, but I don't know how
When what we hoped to avoid, becomes imminent now.
And now we come to the special cases:
You know, they are at the edge of the living,
Questionable that they fit the classification
Just a little red gristle at the articulations
Very desiccated, like pampas grass
Flopping like straw umbrellas
Non-speaking specimens,
What can they be thinking -
If anything?
Cradle one in your arms;
Isn’t it sad
What you think of them
Someone thinks of you
God's name is Pootidoodle
Don't use it in vain.
He had a limp noodle --
This caused him psychic pain.
He took a blue pill that made him ill
Then whipped it out and spun about
And got it bit off by the devil's poodle.
Wolfgang sits alone in a Berlin bar
Plying drink to drink's still darker state,
Depressed, alone, and full of hate
For what he has become.
Young backpack enters and with uncertain
Tongue a conversation starts, until late
Drinking talk is done and Wolfgang must
Depart, but bids young backpack home
With prospects of a sheltered night and promise
Of a warming meal some streets way,
Not far. Wolfgang's wife is waiting.
A meal is cooked, unsteady Wolfgang sits
As wife joins to the right and backpack left,
Still drinking, until now beyond himself
Eyes roll, frame slumps still closer to the table.
Dear Wolfgang's wife at last explains
That Wolfgang is unable. "He's impotent.
My husband here has brought you home",
She says, eyes to the table. "He's brought
You home to be with me so I am not alone
At night. But see how much this hurts him.
When doing this he drinks to stave the pain.
And every time he brings a man, 'dear Wolfgang',
Is what I want to say, 'please don't do this again.'
We treat impotence with a science,
And, we are proud of the results!
Twenty percent of our clients,
Were jailed for sexual assaults!
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