Stevieslaw: We Didn’t Know

Stevieslaw: “We Didn’t Know.”

The day after the storms finished off Kansas—not too long after the American Gulf Coast has joined the lost city of Atlantis and a few billion people have tried desperately to leave Southeast Asia—and failed, human induced climate change will finally be recognized by almost all Americans as a bit of a problem.

And how will the climate skeptics and the enablers of big pollution live with themselves, you might ask? What will they tell their grandchildren?

That’s an easy one—they will deny ever knowing. They will swear no one told them. As hail the size of a bus pounds what’s left of Topeka, they will sing to their grandchildren something like:

“We didn’t know said the climate skeptic
About the coming Apocalypse.
It was Trump and his advisors
That tore the the whole damn planet down…

OK. So I’m not much of a lyricist. But, once again, we have Tom Paxton to remind us of just how easy it is to deny. Remember this one?

We Didn’t Know
Words and Music by Tom Paxton
We didn’t know said the Burgomeister,
About the camps on the edge of town.
It was Hitler and his crew,
That tore the German nation down.
We saw the cattle cars it’s true,
And maybe they carried a Jew or two.
They woke us up as they rattled through,
But what did you expect me to do?
[Cho:]
We didn’t know at all,
We didn’t see a thing.
You can’t hold us to blame,
What could we do?
It was a terrible shame,
But we can’t bear the blame.
Oh no, not us, we didn’t know.
We didn’t know said the congregation,
Singing a hymn in a church of white.
The Press was full lf lies about us,
Preacher told us we were right.
The outside agitators came.
They burned some churches and put the blame,
On decent southern people’s names,
To set our colored people aflame.
And maybe some of our boys got hot,
And a couple of niggers and reds got shot,
They should have stayed where they belong,
And preacher would’ve told us if we’d done wrong.
[Cho:]
We didn’t know said the puzzled voter,
Watching the President on TV.
I guess we’ve got to drop those bombs,
If we’re gonna keep South Asia free.
The President’s such a peaceful man,
I guess he’s got some kind of plan.
They say we’re torturing prisoners of war,
But I don’t believe that stuff no more.
Torturing prisoners is a communist game,
And You can bet they’re doing the same.
I wish this war was over and through,
But what do you expect me to do?

 

Posted in gang gang dance, Humor, parody | Tagged , | 6 Comments

Stevieslaw: And I think it’s going to rain today

Stevieslaw: And I think it’s going to rain today.

Trump’s vacation at the Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster is not off to a good start. Rain, rain, rain.

Trump tweeted early this morning: First President ever to have bad weather on his vacation. So UnAmerican.

Trump: Have to put up with fake news outlets, Russian witch hunt, lazy Jeff Session, treacherous Republican traitors, and Mother Nature. Not fair. No other President had to put up with as much.

Trump: I will handle it. I handle everything. Me and John Kelly can beat up anyone in the room.

Speaking of rain and Trump, I am reminded of the song “and I think it’s going to rain today.” For the Brannon’s, Miller’s and Trumps of the world:

I think it’s going to rain today (Randy Newman 1968)
Broken windows and empty hallways
A pale dead moon in the sky streaked with gray
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it’s going to rain today
Scarecrows dressed in the latest styles
With frozen smiles to chase love away
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it’s going to rain today
Lonely, lonely
Tin can at my feet
I think I’ll kick it down the street
That’s the way to treat a friend
Bright before me the signs implore me
To help the needy and show them the way
Human kindness is overflowing
And I think it’s going to rain today
And I think it’s going to rain today

 

Posted in gang gang dance, Humor, parody | Tagged , , , , | 3 Comments

Stevieslaw: Setting the Record Straight

No one at Stevieslaw called President Bonkers to congratulate him on being the best President ever.  If Donald J. Bananas says that we did, as he eventually will, he is lying.

 

Posted in gang gang dance, Humor, parody | Tagged , | 3 Comments

Stevieslaw: Discipline

Stevieslaw: Discipline

An obviously puffed Sarah Huckabee told reporters at the White House today that Chief of Staff, John Kelly, gathered the entire White House Staff on the lawn at 3 AM this morning, had them don combat fatigues, and marched them to Bethesda, MD—a 6.7 mile trek. Each staff member was forced to carry a 40 pound backpack filled with assorted bullshit. Buses returned the staff to the White House, where they were subjected to an hour of rigorous calisthenics.

All members of the staff, with the exception of Steve (wormtongue) Bannon participated in the drill. Mr. Bannon could not be coaxed out from under the rock where he normally sleeps. Said Huckabee, quoting General Kelly, “I hope Private Bannon likes to peel potatoes, as he will be on KP for the foreseeable future.”

Ms. Huckabee confirmed that Kelly had threatened to pepper Mike Pence’s backside with buckshot, “if that smug son of a bitch comes anywhere near the White House.” Kelly also denied Corporal Trump’s request of a weekend pass to play golf at his resort in New Jersey.

“I have plans to work that butterball back into shape,” said Kelly.

 

Posted in gang gang dance, Humor, parody | Tagged , , , , , | 2 Comments

Stevieslaw: Visiting Day

http://www.eclectica.org/v21n3/deutsch.html

 

My poem, Visiting Day, just appeared in the July/August Issue of Eclectica Magazine.  The link is above, the poem is:

 

Visiting Day

I catch your smile
through the commotion
of that common room
and I can see
my whole childhood in it.

Once, when our world was
just a stickball game
between the manhole
covers on Bristol Street,
you told me
there would be
time enough
for all things—
a tenderness to the phrase
so unlike you
and the life you’ve led
that I have carried it
as a counterweight, of sorts,
to all your worldly transgressions.

Today, it’s just the two of us—
as gangly and awkward
as the children we once were,
in a room filled
with the sound and smell
of misery, on a scale
I might never have imagined.
I have that, too,
to thank you for.
You shake your head
and laugh out loud
as if in explanation,
as the light fades
through the grim
barred windows,
on this, the last day
of an August
that has been
as hot as hell.

Posted in gang gang dance, poetry, Uncategorized | 5 Comments

Stevieslaw: The Brain Trust

Stevieslaw: The Brain Trust

Police halted construction on both sides of the Brooklyn Bridge early this morning. The construction firm, New-Volga, Inc., said that the owner of the bridge requested them to put toll booths up before the start of the morning traffic rush.

Soon after the construction halt, a red-faced Jared Kushner arrived waving a purported deed to the bridge, written in Cyrillic on a cocktail napkin.

Kushner claimed that he bought the bridge for an amazing price from two Russian “real-estate” tycoons at a hotel bar. The meeting was unplanned.

“I couldn’t believe my luck,” said Mr. Kushner, “so I sent a quick e-mail to Donald Junior to ask what he thought.”

Donny replied, “I love it—I’m in for half,” so I brought the bridge.

“You guys cost me a day’s toll,” complained Kushner.

Smokey Diamond, our resident philosopher, summed it up with, “The Russians are playing chess, while we are playing beer-pong.

 

 

Posted in gang gang dance, Humor, parody, Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Stevieslaw: Yearning just appeared in Ekphrastic Review

http://ekphrastic.net

My poem Yearning has just appeared in the Ekphrastic Review.  The poem is based on my wife Karen’s wonderful photo/abstract– she photographs flowers against a background of  one of her abstract paintings.

The link is above.

 

 

 

 

Posted in gang gang dance, poetry, Uncategorized | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Stevieslaw: Me volveria atras si fuera tu

Stevieslaw: Me volveria atras si fuera tu

David Lauter reported today in the Los Angeles Times that Donald Trump told reporters flying with him on Air Force One that “there’s no need for full border wall.”

Later today, The White House will formally report on the new plan for border security with Mexico. Stevieslaw has gotten advanced notification.

The new plan will involve up to 100 signs written in Spanish and in English. In Spanish, facing Mexico, they will say “me volveria atras si fuera tu,” and in English, “I’d turn back if I will you.”
The last phrase, you might recall, was popularized in “The Wizard of Oz.”

The White House will also announce that Enrique Pena Nieto, President of Mexico, has agreed to pay for the signs—a huge victory for Mr. Trump, and one that is sure to please his supporters. Mr. Nieto said, “I will write a personal check for the signs. I only hope to god it will get that moron off my back.”

Fair and Balanced News (Fox) reports, “the erection of the signs will employ up to three hardworkingamericanworkers for nearly two weeks, another victory for Trump!”

 

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Stevieslaw: Rust Belt

My poem, Rust Belt, is one of five finalists for the goodreads monthly poetry prize.  If you are a goodreads member, log on and vote for the best poem (mine I hope).

Posted in Uncategorized | Tagged | 8 Comments

Stevieslaw: Feds Clear Trump’s Son

Stevieslaw: Feds clear Trump’s son

Fox News trumpeted the headline this morning that Trump’s son was not under investigation. Although, Sean Hannity promised that details would follow, Fox has not followed up on the report.

Said former Speaker, Newt Gingrich, “This is wonderful news, though not unexpected. We’ve long known that this investigation was just a witch hunt.” Vice-President Mike Pence agreed. He was just about to attend his fourth prayer meeting of the day, when the news broke at 7 A.M. Said Pence, “I’ve prayed that this would all come to a quick end, and this looks like the beginning of the end to me.”

Speaker, Paul Ryan echoed that sentiment. “This is the kind of good news we’ve been waiting for.

There are unconfirmed reports that Jared Kushner might have cracked a smile.

Undarr Rocks, spokesperson for the Special Prosecutor said, “There is no evidence that 10 year old, Barron Trump was involved in any way. We were naturally curious about his play dates with children of Russian Embassy officials, but these were all quite innocent.”

“He has never been under investigation,” said Mr. Rocks. “As a parent, however, I find it nice that he has friends.”

Posted in gang gang dance, Humor, parody | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment