The wife of LBJ, known to all as 'Ladybird'
was famous for the following words
'Plant a tree, a shrub, or a bush'
She never dreamed they'd lead to
two more Texans in the White House
First the father, George Herbert Walker
Then the son, smart-alecky George W. Bush!
Categories:
lbj, environment, irony, leadership, usa,
Form: Rhyme
Watched Rachel Maddow with her studio show.
great studio show
her home we will get to know
on us she does grow
She seems to have been in
contact with someone who
had COVID so she will be
quarantining herself by
staying home and doing
her show there. Sad that
she will be gone for a few
months. They are making
a movie about her book
about LBJ and need her
as a consultant.
Categories:
lbj, allegory, analogy,
Form: Haiku
things seen on book shelves
they are always interesting
part of person's life
on books we will prey
with Meacham went all the way
just like LBJ
while in pool we splashed
after we would become smashed
then in our beds crashed
weather cold or warm
when they would raise a big storm
mob began to form
Spirit of America by Jon Meacham
they had grabbed their crotch
when what they started did botch
carved another notch
(my turn to stand watch)
she had been bossy
when they gathered up posse
eyes became mossy
for mush smooth sailing
climate control unveiling
fresh air inhaling
learned from a long list
read what Trump said do insist
me you should resist
would escape my mind
each tire were trying to bind
had been left behind
outside is raining
to control her complaining
she needs more training
to us never boon
Trump looked like a loony lune
sins stored in sand dune
Categories:
lbj, allegory, analogy,
Form: Haiku
The Great Society has returned
Its leader now not LBJ
But Joseph Robinette Biden, Jr.
His hair all white; his ideas frayed
It didn't work then, it won't work now
'Coz it's not a matter of know-how
The old 'War on Poverty' needs be the new War on Crime
The same mistake made back then, and now this time
A society with a law-and-order breakdown
Invites demagogic rule and more violence
It needs to be met with a strong, firm hand
Not with 'Defund-the-Police' or just silence
Good, high-paying union jobs, old Joe proposes
So we can ruin infrastructure like we've ruined education
With their shouts of racism, injustice, and inequity
Our well-paid teachers keep kids out of classrooms as long as can be
I could go on and on here, but what's the use
Once government unions take over, incompetence breaks loose
Categories:
lbj, america, judgement, leadership, political,
Form: Rhyme
Donald and Joe
Ronnie and Jimmy
Harry and George
Richard 'n Cal 'n Barack
JFK, LBJ and TR
Like Pinocchio, they wished on a star
All made promises they didn't keep
All made us laugh, cry and say bleep ~
Remember, please, that the office of President
does not provide halos for its residents
Categories:
lbj, angel, integrity, leadership, political,
Form: Couplet
Our leaders who are Caucasians
On some previous occasions
Would A-bomb Japan
And Viet Nam hides tan
But hate all bias against Asians
Author's comment: Hate crime is always bad. Here's an idea for a political cartoon:
Frame 1: Truman and advisors celebrate the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki with laughter and joy even though those targets were not military and innocent civilians died.
Frame 2: LBJ and Nixon celebrate with the military and their suppliers over dropping bombs on Hanoi.
Frame 3: The same people claim outrage after any act of violence against an asian here.
Categories:
lbj, hate, history,
Form: Limerick
Fifty-odd years ago
JFK died.
If you were living then,
You must have cried.
TV ran on and on –
Pink hat and shots;
Oswald and Ruby
Connecting the dots.
Bloodstains on Jackie,
The LBJ pledge;
All of America
Sitting on edge.
John John saluted,
The widow in black.
Innocence ended
And never came back.
Each twenty-second
The month of November,
Those moments flash back
And I pause to remember.
*This poem was written and posted
on November 22, 2011. The original
first line was "Forty-eight years ago..."
I decided that I couldn't say it any better today.
Categories:
lbj, america, anniversary,
Form: Rhyme
We have our whims with acronyms,
especially with our Presidents:
Remember JFK and RFK?
~ They paved the way for LBJ.
'Course FDR started so much more--
the AAA and the CCC
the CWA and the FHA
the NRA and the PWA
the SSA and the WPA
~and who can forget the TVA?
But after HHH got to be the VP,
he just couldn't win any more...
He couldn't beat Nixon
who used all his tricks in
proving Hubert Horatio Humphrey
~ a consummate BORE...
'Course this made Humphrey so sore,
he had to settle the score,
raspy voice from the grave risen once more:
"Seems you have yet to meet Albert GORE..."
Categories:
lbj, america, humorous, political, power,
Form: Light Verse
Schools are closed, there is no mail
And stores hold special sales.
To honor our first president,
That’s what this day entails.
Though technically, our 16th prez
Is celebrated, too.
To make a Monday holiday,
That’s what they chose to do.
The 40-something other men
Who served the USA
As presidents were not awarded
Their own special day.
So sorry Adams, Jefferson,
James Madison, Monroe,
John Quincy Adams, Jackson
And Van Buren – all are no.
Poor Harrison and Tyler,
Polk and Taylor, Pierce and Grant,
Fillmore, Johnson and Buchanan,
Hayes and Garfield – no, you can’t.
Arthur, Cleveland and McKinley,
Harrison and Teddy R.,
Taft and Wilson, Harding, Coolidge,
Hoover, also FDR…
Truman, Eisenhower, JFK,
LBJ and Nixon, Ford,
Carter, Reagan, both the Bushes
And Bill Clinton – not on board.
Last, no day off for Obama.
As to he who’s right now serving,
I can’t think of anyone who might
Be any less deserving.
Categories:
lbj, presidents day,
Form: Rhyme
HRC and You and Me
Bill retired and did ride off into the dust
Return again we always knew he must
With Hillary wo happened to be trusty
Even though great shape not very busty.
Many experiences Hillary had been through
Yet still firm not changing point of view
With voice we heard that was so stern
Said, "Back to White House I shall return."
Has all of the qualities that are essential
For person who likes acting Presidential
Making everyone feel safe and sound
Whenever we will have Hillary around.
Some day too her second term shall expire
And like husband Bill she also did retire
Hoping never again to hear some wisecrack
Made by Bernie about another Super PAC.
What I positively really meant to say
Was, "With HRC it has to be the only way (Not LBJ)
And always know what Bill and Hillary mean
When they start talking about SWEET SIXTEEN.
James Thesarious Hilarious Horn
Retired Veteran and Poet
Categories:
lbj, allegory, analogy, humorous,
Form: Couplet
The Boring Teacher
By Elton Camp
Coach Lindsey is an ignorant creep
Who puts all of his students to sleep
Sports is the only thing that he knows
Yet, into the history classroom he goes
He doesn’t know how people did live
And a coherent lecture he can’t give
He can’t tell one Adams from another
Thinks LBJ is Andy Johnson’s brother
That Teddy Roosevelt was after FDR
And that Jefferson drove an Edsel car
That the War of 1812 was against Spain
And that WW II saw sinking of the Maine
Believes Adolf Hitler was the head of Japan
And that Ben Franklin for president ran
The Constitution of the newly-formed nation
Confuses with the Emancipation Proclamation
Gettysburg Address is where the president lives
The Bill of Rights a listing of expenses gives
And yet, tenure good Coach Lindsey has got
So it doesn’t matter if he is ignorant or not
Categories:
lbj, education,
Form: Rhyme
Forty-eight years ago
JFK died.
If you were living then,
You must have cried.
TV ran on and on –
Pink hat and shots;
Oswald and Ruby
Connecting the dots.
Bloodstains on Jackie,
The LBJ pledge;
All of America
Sitting on edge.
John John saluted,
The widow in black.
Innocence ended
And never came back.
Each twenty-second
The month of November,
Those moments flash back
And I pause to remember.
Categories:
lbj, anniversary, history,
Form: Rhyme
It's really not that bad a place
Just a little run down is all
The paint's peeling due to factory defects
The golf course needs work on the greens
Nine flags need replacing
Both fireplaces could stand pointing
The kitchen is small
But designed for one to cook
without walking a country mile
Trees are determined to shade
everywhere except the
in ground pool, hot tub,
and koi ponds, and part
of the veggie garden.
Most of the flower plots
manage to get some sun
and the green house of course
The two car garage still has
room for two cars, barely.
The old oak floors
covered with six coats of urethane
are bearing up under the tracking in
of stable debris daily.
all in all we're managing
fairly well below the poverty level
decreed by LBJ and cohorts
Ooops it's time to ride the lawnmower.
Which shed did I leave it in?
Categories:
lbj, family, history, introspection,
Form: Bio