A Vow of Silence

Tags

poem, poetry, Triolet, Vow of Silence

𝗔  𝗩𝗼𝘄  𝗼𝗳  𝗦𝗶𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲

For thirty years you haven’t said a word;

But now we’ll set you free to tell your tale.

Had you said anything we would have heard —

For thirty years you haven’t said a word.

You gave no hint, no clue to what occurred,

But now you may — those secrets have gone stale.

For thirty years you haven’t said a word;

But now we’ll set you free to tell your tale.

— D.N. O’Brien

Demented Democracy?

Tags

democracy, poem, poetry, sonnet, Spenserian sonnet

𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐜𝐫𝐚𝐜𝐲?

Democracy, a system often praised,

Assumes that those who vote are mostly sane.

But what if more than half of them are crazed?

Thus less than half, the sane ones that remain.

To whom would this minority complain?

To those who are elected by the ill?

What would such evil actors have to gain

By bending to a far-outnumbered will?

Democracy is not so hard to kill —

It dies, then comes a sick one party state.

The nation could be governed by a dill

To whom the crazy voters could relate —

Perhaps an old guy half way round the twist;

Could such a possibility exist?

— D.N. O’Brien

A Bottom-up Problem

Tags

democracy, Demos, poem, poetry, Triolet

𝐀  𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐨𝐦-𝐮𝐩  𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦

The quality of a democracy

Depends upon the state of the demos.

Observe the voters — for it’s there you’ll see

The quality of a democracy.

Do they choose to be safe, or to be free?

Love liberty, or couldn’t give a toss?

The quality of a democracy

Depends upon the state of the demos.

— D.N. O’Brien

Blowing Bitcoin Bubbles

Tags

Bitcoin, Bitcoin bubble, gambling, poem, poetry, the Cloud

Blowing Bitcoin Bubbles

I bought a bitcoin. (So I’m told)

It’s far more valuable than gold.

I thought it would arrive by post,

But now, it seems, it’s like a ghost.

Instead of being out and proud,

It hides from sight within the cloud.

I thought it was a coin I’d bought,

But it’s as solid as a thought.

Its value had increased tenfold

But then it dived. (Should I have sold?)

No, I will wait for a rebound.

I’ll bet my strategy is sound.

No matter what turmoil or trouble,

Nothing can burst the bitcoin bubble.

— D.N. O’Brien

A Sonnet for Kamala

Tags

Kamala Harris, poem, poetry, sonnet, Spenserian sonnet

(Since I don’t think Joe can be kept alive for much longer)

(I recycled this from one I wrote for Hillary, but she let me down)

𝐀  𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐭  𝐟𝐨𝐫  𝐊𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐚

A female President? – What could go wrong?
In government one has to compromise,
And we all know the fairer sex is strong
In that regard, and too, unlike the guys,
Gals hold no grudges and they tell no lies.
Logical, clear-headed, rational, and
Like Solomon, judicious, fair, and wise.
Male politicians, on the other hand,
Behave in ways no one can understand.
So with a female leader we can live.
A change for good is sweeping o’er the land.
We need a President with love to give.
Into the depths ancient suspicions hurl,
And give the highest office to a girl.

— D.N. O’Brien

𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Tags

climate change, Climate Change Scam, Noble Cause Corruption, poem, poetry, Triolet

𝐍𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞  𝐂𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞  𝐂𝐨𝐫𝐫𝐮𝐩𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

Corruption’s fine when there’s a noble cause.

And noble causes multiply these days.

And whether Climate Change or pointless wars,

Corruption’s fine when there’s a noble cause.

The corporations kneel, and profit soars;

 The nobles choose the tune, the piper plays.

Corruption’s fine when there’s a noble cause.

And noble causes multiply these days.

— D.N. O’Brien

Driven Out

Tags

limerick, Limerick poem, Limerick poetry, poem, poetry, White flight

𝐃𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐧  𝐎𝐮𝐭

I am white, so they wish I should go.

So I’ll leave — I will go with the flow

From the blue to the red;

They prepare a seedbed,

And in time they will reap what they sow.

— D.N. O’Brien

𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞!

Tags

poem, poetry, Triolet, Ukraine

𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞 𝐔𝐤𝐫𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞!

The Russians have so much to lose,

We have so much to gain!

They want out help — do not refuse!

Destabilize Ukraine!

Don’t let the Russian speakers choose;

We need her fields of grain!

So with the West, Ukraine must fuse —

(So thinks the German brain).

— D.N. O’Brien

A Decline and Fall

Tags

Duke of Edinburgh, poem, poetry, Prince Philip death

𝐀  𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞  𝐚𝐧𝐝  𝐅𝐚𝐥𝐥

Has died, a potent symbol of the past.

A relic of an Empire gone to dust.

But men, like mighty nations, cannot last,

For cursed time consumes the good and just.

The heads are bowed; the flags fly at half mast.

Britannia’s shield and trident turn to rust.

— D.N. O’Brien