Bach

 BACH

Bach never wrote a symphony.

He had to earn his pay

By churning out church harmony

Every single day.

Do Not Obey in Advance

 DO NOT OBEY IN ADVANCE

When the Powers That Be

Are all you see,

Do not cower; hold your stance,

And do not obey in advance.

            **********

Question what you see,

Question all authority,

Always look askance,

And do not obey in advance.

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Stand up and stand out.

Be skeptical and always doubt.

Give their lies a second glance,

And do not obey in advance.

            **********

Believe in truth, believe in facts,

Be ready for their attacks.

Keep your head and keep your balance,

And do not obey in advance.

            **********

All are sisters; all are brothers.

They will come for you after others.

Don't do their deadly dance,

And do not obey in advance.

            **********

Take care. Beware.

Be as brave as you dare.

Take a chance,

And do not obey in advance.

Tell Me

 TELL ME

Tell me of the elements

That all things share.

Tell me of those elements,

Tell me of the air.

            **********

Tell me now, to give me ease,

Tell me words that matter.

Tell me of those endless seas,

Tell me of that water.

            **********

Tell me words that I should keep,

Tell me words of worth.

Tell me the words I seek,

Tell me of the earth.

            **********

Tell me words of pleasure,

Tell me words most dire.

Tell me words to treasure,

Tell me of the fire.

            **********

Tell me of the elements

That all things share,

Tell of those elements,

Fire, water, earth and air.

First Woman in Space

 FIRST WOMAN IN SPACE

(June 18, 1983)

Ride, Sally Ride!

The first woman in space!

That day you filled us all with pride

That we had won the race.

            **********

Few knew that glorious day

That Sally Ride had another side,

That Sally Ride was also gay,

And gave others their rainbow pride.

            **********

And few knew that glorious day

You were not the first woman in space.

Nor could many say

The strange name that won the race.

            **********

Twenty years 'ere you entered the race

The Russians sent up their supernova.

The first woman in space

Was Valentina Tereskova.

Her Biggest Day

 HER BIGGEST DAY

She prepared for her death.

She made the plans all her life.

She knew the aftermath of her last breath.

            **********

She knew the dress she would wear.

She knew the names of the flowers.

She knew who would be there.

            **********

She paid for her grave in advance.

She paid for her casket.

She paid so nothing would be left to chance.

            **********

She chose the sermon.

She chose the songs.

She chose those to summon.

            **********

She wrote her own obit.

She wrote her farewell notes.

She wrote, leaving nothing out of it.

            **********

She thought of everything.

She bought everything.

She fought for everything.

            **********

After all,

She knew it would be

The biggest day of her life.

No Kings

NO KINGS

There are no kings,

Not in America.

But plenty of other such things.

Patriarchs and oligarchs,

Quislings and princelings,

Petty tyrants, sycophants,

And fortunate sons wearing gold rings.

            **********

There is no monarchy,

Not in America.

But plenty of kleptocracy.

We have plutocrats and autocrats

In our republican democracy,

All masquerading as democrats

To further their autocracy.

            **********

There are no kings,

Not in America.

But plenty of slings

And arrows of misfortune

For those who will not kiss the rings

Of those who call the tune,

And say they are not our kings.

            **********

For there are no kings,

Not in America.

Earthquake

 EARTHQUAKE

Millions on the move.

Today, no longer silent.

Grounds shift. All is changed.