CROWNING BLOWS

Our founders didn’t plan a standing army.

Said, “Keep your guns. If ever we’re attacked,

fight back.” And yet the Continental Army

grew and grew. Today, its job is clear:

safeguard citizens from threats and harm.

Don’t be the threat—tear-gassing protest groups,

or shooting rubber bullets into crowds

to punish rebel rallies, menace them

with National Guardsmen, troops of tough Marines.

The army wasn’t meant to be an axe–

behead dissent, make Presidents into Kings.

President craved a warrior parade—

like North Korea’s storm-troopers and tanks.

So on his birthday, he has big, big plans—

impress Blue States, the MAGA crowd, the world

with how much fearsome force he can unleash

by snapping fingers. He—the chief, the star!

His birthday falls on an auspicious day.

He’ll mark the army’s anniversary

like no one’s ever seen– a huge parade!

Intimidate with grim, jackbooted troops.

a $45 million birthday bash!

June 14^th dawns hot, with drizzling rain.

So what? The show goes on. And on. And on–

down D.C. streets. The smattering of folks

that wait and watch are silent. You can hear

one hundred thirty tanks go squeaking by,

thirty-four horses, two old army mules.

Here come the hand-held drones, and robot dogs

whose jerky marching entertains the kids.

Platoon upon platoon in serried ranks–

Six thousand soldiers saunter past in camo,

walking out-of-step. Some even wave.

“The tone’s all wrong!” the pissed-off POTUS roars.

“I wanted troops that paralyze with fear.”

Berates his birthday present. Showers blame.

Looks glum, and naps. Some VIPs watch, yawning.

News videos show empty rows of bleachers.

Empty folding chairs outnumber full.

But he rewrites the pricey flop. Invents

a madly cheering mob! Huge numbers! Huge!

Meanwhile, all across the USA,

two thousand towns or more host record crowds–

Five million demonstrators fill the streets

with heartfelt, home-made protest signs and feet.

In Utah, wheelchairs leave the nursing home

and roll out on the streets to wave their flags

and question health-care cuts, their lives at stake.

Red States, Blue States, finally one voice:

       No one’s paying me to resist Fascism.

       If there’s money for a parade,

there’s money for Medicaid.

       Eggs are scarce, ‘cause chickens are in Congress.

       OMG, GOP! WTF?

       Even Ikea has better cabinets.

       Take a stand now, or bow down later.

       A King? No FAUX-king way!

No Kings! No Kings! Chains of human resolve

stretch for blocks. In some cities, for miles.

Peaceful, but expressing deep concerns:

immigration seizures, health care, tariffs,

Social Security, free speech, civil rights.

Over it all, the war cry of democracy:

we’re not the pawns of power. We are free.

No Kings! No Kings! You hear our voice? No Kings!

TRUMP’S WAR

Operation Midnight Hammer included seven B-2 Spirit Bombers, 125 total aircraft, and more than 75 precision guided weapons…

The largest operational strike in U.S. History.” –CBS News, 6/2025

Yo, Trump! Did you start World War III today?

Iran and Israel have been at odds.

So Netanyahu winks at Trump and nods.

Trump plans a strike, and stealth bombers obey.

We bomb three nuclear sites without okay

of Congress. Unprovoked attacks– Ye gods!

Will this uplift his sagging polls? Or prod

a larger war— a Middle East melee?

“Bone spurs” exempted him from wartime action

He thinks combat’s a cinch. His ace? The Bomb.

His lame parade’s eclipsed by this distraction.

Great press: Trump leads with boldness and aplomb!

Thinks war’s a lucrative, if lethal, sport.

He may yet build that swank Gaza resort.

TRUMP’S WAR: IRAN’S RESPONSE

After the bomb-strike, swift retaliation. 

Well, what did you expect? A medal? No!

You killed civilians! Bombed our towns! And so

your rationale rings hollow to a nation

using uranium for power, not bombs.

U.S. Intelligence confirms these facts.

Yet you join Israel’s feud, committing acts

of war! To flex your muscles? Vietnam’s

a faded memory? Afghanistan

forgotten? There are stand-offs no one wins.

We sign a nuclear treaty meant to ban 

nuke weapons. But it’s you, Trump, who rescinds.

Now you slap our face and think you’ll run?

Run fast! A bloodbath threatens everyone.