"America, the Great" See the reckoning upon our country The beautiful United States Disillusioned in the 21st century Where she’s headed only God can say Blue and red are her fighting colors Some say white’s the pallor of her disgrace You can’t get the truth from our leaders But you can catch a glimpse in the peoples’ face America, the great Fractured and divided Relentlessly derided Can we relearn to venerate thee, again? What of your former glory? Was it all only a well-told story? Muslims, Christians, Arabs, blacks and whites The American melting pot on a boiling plate Can we find a common vision for our sights? Or has the experiment reached its terminal state? America, the great Corrupt and bureaucratic Fanatically schismatic Will we ever stand proud by thee, again? What will happen to the nation That can’t even hold a civil conversation? My once-beloved country, By what epithet should I call thee? America, the once-great America, the irate America, the late America, the great

“The American Circus” Silicon-breasted, botoxed cougars The bronzed, cock-sure men who schmooze them The bum who bleeds a dime from both And the junkie who mugs them all for coke And the banker revving up his Jag To mock the newly-bankrupt hag Who corrals in bags her thirteen cats— Another meme for the Internets! And don’t forget their forgotten youths The hipsters who make cool uncouth Starving artists with change for drugs All activists so woke and smug! Woo-hoo! Here at the American Circus Admission’s always free Thanks in part to taxpayer funds And grants from the Treasury We’ll keep open borders all year long— We’ll never discriminate— Until the time the freaks grow old Or grow up and move away! Pedophiles and cultish preachers Fight to death rabid feministas While cowed and bent and dressed in rags The Shame Parade gets scorned and wagged And politicians with practiced smiles Sway gawking crowds with open guile As snowflakes fall to and huff and puff— Freedom is never free enough! In the main tent, center ring Lady Liberty prepares to sing A remix of the Stars and Stripes With lyrics of pop-studded tripe! Yahoo! Here at the American Circus Deviants are the norm We pass no judgments on their talents— It’s their politics we deplore! So if you’re in or out of town Just shake your fist and come right down To the place where everything happening is— Bring your enemies! Bring your friends! Bring the kids! And don’t forget your stones and bricks! And don’t forget your selfie-sticks! And don’t forget your politics!

“Dream Big” My mother said to me Darling, you will be Something great to see Dad and I agree You are the bee’s knees Someone so unique Just maybe practice more so you can sing on-key Boy, did I believe All she poured in me I was just a pea Now grown to a tree Filled with buoyant glee Moved to the Valley Got an Art degree from a big university But, wait a minute now But wait a minute now Why can’t I get a job in the industry now What in the hell is this What in the hell is this I didn’t spend four years to deal with this bullshit One-hundred grand in debt, the hell with art, I quit My mother consoles me A secretary’s Not so bad to be Just you wait and see Patience is the key Someday you’ll marry Your spouse will agreeyou have special qualities Mother, shut the hell up, for the love of God, please!

“The Plateau” Here upon the plateau we are leading ambiguous lives, Beyond the fray of moral compromise. Here upon the crust of time, we’re crawling through history blind— What’s our hope? Who’s to guide? Who decides? Who... The killers kill for their joy; The killers leave us amazed; The killers will to destroy— Was it always? The leaders offer their thoughts; The leaders pledge to be safe; The leaders assuage our loss— Was it always? The preachers proffer their cures; The preachers promise someday; The preachers raise up their prayers— Was it always? The people wonder and wait; The people are entertained; The people love to hate— Was it always?

"Sid" Listen, let me tell you All about my friend named Sid He hasn’t got a clue about life But the boy is a real sweet kid And he’s looking for love He’s got a decent-paying job But he’s not too happy with it He wants to be a famous star Like his idol Michael Jackson He’s got no talent But lots of a passion He lives alone in the city And feels lonely at night He’s got a wide, bright smile And caring, brown eyes He works the machines at the gym He says it’s all for the ladies That he builds his six-pack of confidence Vulnerable to a fault, he’s really sincere He’ll tell you everything about himself, all you can bear He wears his heart on his sleeve He has an arsenal of dad jokes that’re really— Not funny, yet charming He used to binge at clubs and bars But then he grew sick of the scene So now he sits in coffee shops Hoping to meet someone Hoping he’ll be seen I tell him he’s a real great catch And he ought to feel confident He tells me thanks with a grin Obviously doubting it “Think it’ll happen,” he asks, “happen for me?”

"Viral Love" I’m so lucky You’re so pretty I mean it, really — what A lovely smile Send me pictures I’ll send you pictures Please don’t put them up on-line Do you like me? Think I’m handsome? Is this awkward? I’m so shy Call me “honey” I’ll call you “baby” — and We’ll stare in each other’s eyes I think I love you Is it too soon? Probably too soon I don’t mind What you up to? I’m thinking of you Can I take you out to... I’m so happy that we two e-met Thanks to coding and the internet Love is catching in a cyber dragnet Easy-peasy I sing the magic of the right-thumb swipe A thousand swipes, I finally got it right I found love in a kilobyte Simplicity Ubiquity Technology Serendipity Why so silent? You’re too quiet I’m in my head Was I misread? You seem different Almost indifferent An honest question: Is it your period? I’m not an A-word Don’t be a B-word I’m not a creeper Maybe a dreamer How’m I clingy? Please don’t block me I’m no weirdo I’m just a poor Pierrot!

“Sun, Rise” Stretching from the east Golden, amber streaks Brushing mountain peaks Streaming through the trees Stirring life from sleep Birds take to their song Mates to dance along ‘splaying proud and strong Heralding the dawn Small, hidden thrush Peach-breasted flush What do you say? Still in the gust Attent to wind’s hush What do you hear? Bathed in sun’s blush Perched in the bush What do you see? See the earth’s turning Ceaselessly yearning; Wan, the moon’s visage, Slow, fading image; Stewards of both night and day Mortals to the sun’s keen rays All go down someday... Shadowed in the west Pale, three-quarter crest Lingering from rest Light of sun you wrest Ancient times you’ve seen Peasants, kings and queens All who’ve ever been Laid beneath the green Withdraw upon your way Hide from us this day History’s decay Dark to which we’re prey

"O Man — Be Decent!" It’s the end of the world... But I still feel like dancing! So let’s call up da’ boys And let us cruise for girls Let’s seek out loud noise And repress all our concerns With overpriced well cocktails And unregulated drugs Until we’ve drowned what ails us In a gin and vodka flood And let us grind on strangers Who probably have VD And let this thrill of danger Disguise our own unease And let’s take ‘em in the bathroom Make nasty memories And if some dude should slip in— Fuck it—it’s the 21st century And when our heads are spinnin’ And our burnin’ loins are sore Let’s still come out shoutin’ More more more more! And should the drugs be aspirin And if the liquor’s cut And if the girls aren’t happen’n We will what what what... Call up Wild Sally Check if she is home She knows the whole damn Valley And how and where to roam But if she should fail us Then we are truly fucked Then we are left to stillness And by the night rebuffed Sally’s home with family With her mother, father, and son Their faces staring gravely And they don’t look like fun She says the bombs are coming The whole damn world’s at war She asks where’d we come from, Where our families are We feel the urge to flee We feel the urge to cry With all this reality How do decent folk stay high? She grins and asks us sadly, Do we need a place to stay? Then takes our hands so boldly And in the silence—prays... We try to keep our calm We holdfast friends and family We seek truth as our balm Like decent human beings And though our world is crumbling Life still holds its meaning On this we keep reflecting Like decent human beings Like decent fucking human beings

“Consumer Glee (Caveat Emptor)” Step right up and see The brand-spankin’ new technology Guaranteed to put your life at ease Saves you time Improves your life And it only costs Five-thousand dimes! This ain’t no case of greed But it’s also a boon to society But if you don’t believe me Listen to him He’s totally right Buy this new thing It saved my life! Listen to that consumer glee, Don’t they sound happy? Listen to the masses stampede, Sounds like money! Ain’t this new gadget shiny? It costs a pretty penny... of yours Ha ha ha What’s this question about need? Do you eat? Do you breathe? Or answer me this: Do you like to be free? We like it a lot Most every day Let me show you home much By how much I will pay! That’s the right spirit, buddy! You’re a quick study Buy two and get an ironic advert-tee If you buy three, you’ll get a fourth free Don’t you like saving money? Of course... Ha ha ha In other words, this’s something that you need And already it’s nearly obsolete So cash in that paycheck with all due speed— And spend that money!

World-Breaking News So like a model citizen You like to know what’s going on Who’s the enemy today And do they have the bigger bomb So you grab your TV tray And the lite beer that you like And you sit yourself down And prepare to be apprised— Of the breaking news sweeping across the nation Of the insensate fear and commotion That’s rising like a wave of devastation And falling down on you in consternation Always interspersed with anecdotal stories Like drunkards at a party Always relayed in that impassive way Like faces of clay Always sensational and always grim Like the world’s at its end Well maybe it is Or maybe it’s spin But questions still remain Like who are they to say Or who are they to me And what’s community Or even citizenry When the Powers that Be Got the reporters up their sleeves And you’re just a little piece In this global machine And, thank God, you still can eat But how are you to sleep— My God! World-breaking news—to put you in a panic! World-breaking news—more entertaining than static! World-breaking news—for the well-informed voter! World-breaking news—for commercial promoters! World-breaking news—about the sick and demented! World-breaking news—“honestly” presented! World-breaking news—with experts interviewed! World-breaking news—more depressing than the Blues! But, down to brass tacks You gotta know the facts And if reporters are all jacks As often their lax Then give ‘em the ol’ sack And burn their contracts Ring ‘em on the racks Let the people amass We’ll show them our wrath We’ll march on Washington and have ourselves a bloodbath! Which is not unlike what you hear today Sex sells well, but hate holds more sway It’s easy to spout but hard to unsay And it’s cheaper than compassion on Black Friday Everyone’s convinced that they’re in the right Like crusading knights Everyone’s convinced they’re the victims Like the system’s rectum Everyone’s convinced that America sucks Like socialist schmucks Well maybe they’re right Or maybe they’re frightened ‘Cause if one thing’s for certain The future’s got us nervous And all the news that’s current Hardly serves a purpose When each and every person Hears their own special sermon And when all our eyes go dark and Our hearts to solid harden Maybe we’ll finally learn that When a people lose their way They see their familiar world decay World-breaking news—to make you feel manic! World-breaking news—for the political fanatic! World-breaking news—so bad you can’t believe it! World-breaking news—your world crumbling by the minute! World-breaking news—since nothing’s on cable! World-breaking news—about the mad and unstable! World-breaking news—reported by a puppet! World-breaking news—for that pit in your stomach! World-breaking news—to ruin your vacation! World-breaking news—tragedy across the nation! World-breaking news—reports on all the rumors! World-breaking news—for the au courant consumer! World-breaking news—much better than soma! World-breaking news—for symptoms like trachoma! World-breaking news—it’s totally impartial! World-breaking news—enjoy another commercial!

“Psychic Dialectic” I’m an upright man I’m a manic sham I always tell the truth From my subjective view I’ve an open mind For ideas like mine I trust totally Just not socially I believe in God When I’m feeling flawed I care too much I think I’m out of touch I love my neighbor Except when he’s here I smile a lot I have sad thoughts Doctor, doctor, Can you write me something for my psychic pain Celexa, Prozak, Clozaril, Saphrasis— Anything to keep me sane I’ve got these feelings, sometimes voices Swirling around inside of my brain I don’t need much, just twelve short months Then I’m sure I’ll be all right again Doctor, doctor, Tell me again, convince me, who the hell am I? Where am I going? What I’m doing—How do I discern the “why”? I know it’s somewhere, feel it’s somewhere Coming near, close inside A meaning, something greater than me— Something—Anything to keep me alive I’ve got no regrets Only lots of debts I’m a sensitive guy With a whiskey dry I obey the laws When they suit my cause I’ve never outright lied But I’ve often tried I’ve got love to give I’m an empty sieve I’m a romantic type I like to choke and stripe I’m a moral agent Who buys abortifacients I’m your average man I’m an American

“Interesting Times” What will they say we were thinking in our time, When the future looks back, will we still be so wise? The school mills are all full, mulling all the sanctioned facts, But our intellects are dull, our minds brittle and lax The past we have buried and all its white lies, But if truth has a color, why not gouge out our eyes? Politics consumes every aspect of life; Seems the most we hold in common, divides like a knife Our benighted time has come, soon to pass by, And the least they will say is ours was interesting times.

“The Troubadour” Step out beyond your doors And harken to my rhymes I am the troubadour My songs are for all time If life has plowed you down Under furrows in your mind I can turn your frown around With the magic in my lines A fantasy for the child A romance for the bride Whatever makes you smile I’ll always oblige I sing lives to enrich I am the troubadour I sing merrily for the rich I sing gaily for the poor I am the troubadour

“How the West was Lost” Giddy-up, giddy-up, Cowboy, grab your gun Giddy-up, giddy-up, Call your horse and run The city men ride across your plains To shame your mores and crooked your ways Giddy-up, giddy-up, Neighbors, bolt your doors Giddy-up, giddy-up, Owners, guard your stores Highfalutin men with low ideals Threaten your lives in designer heels Gary Cooper and John Wayne’s Ghosts track across the plain; But John Chance and Will Kane Never will draw breath again! Giddy-up, giddy-up The time has come Giddy-up, giddy-up Do ya hear that thrum? They come by trains, they come by jets, They’re shootin’ through your TV sets Giddy-up, heigh-ho, Noon’s veiled shadow Giddy-up, heigh-ho, The day is woe A man’s true word and a man’s fair name Have been tarnished, bled and laid... in the grave.