The fall elections are anything but child’s play

What Henry Hyde’s vacating
a guy named Roskam seeks.
He’s running strong and confident
to claim that long-held seat.

His foe’s a female veteran
who feels the war is wrong.
Ms. Duckworth quacks a liberal tune
some anti-Bush folk song.

For Roskam, freedom matters.
For Duckworth, tolerance.
For him, the bucks are raised in-state.
For her, they’re East Coast funds.

The pundits of both parties
are focused on Chi-town.
A race for U. S. Congress there
has foreheads knit in frowns.

This campaign’s a bellwether
of how the rest will go.
Will those who back the President
survive? We soon will know.

The killing of Amish schoolgirls is evidence of a fallen world

Not far from Paradise, PA
a town is renamed Hell today.
The flames of grief engulf the soul
and evil’s in the air.

The horse and buggies all in black
define this week’s heartbreaking facts.
A gunman killed five Amish girls
who felt so safe at school.

And once again we can’t ignore
the Game of Life’s most bloody score.
Our world is fraught with pain and fear
and sane-less acts of wrong.

Dear God be near these folks who grieve
whose brittle nerves (like autumn leaves)
are raked and piled and set ablaze
by all that’s taking place.

Why Bush keeps getting the shaft

An elevator captain’s voice
announces “Going up!”
But in Baghdad what’s on the rise
is anything corrupt.

It’s not an escalator found
in some department store.
What escalates both day and night
is conflict in that war.

“Let’s cut and run! Let”s leave Iraq!”
Those words make Sunnis laugh.
Whoever says we’d best get out,
gives freedom’s chance the shaft.

It’s time we gave our troops abroad
an unexpected gift.
To let them know we’re proud they’re there
would give them all a lift.

Don’t take your cues from those who call
our President a clown.
Instead, consult those in the know.
Ask them, “What’s going down?”

A call to kick an unhealthy habit

It brings me down to see you light up.
Why do you still smoke?
Cigarettes can give you cancer.
They can leave you broke.

Each one makes your nose a chimney.
Fills you lungs with tar.
They play havoc with your taste buds.
So do those cigars.

Little ones who watch you end up
following your lead.
Thanks to you they’re soon addicted
to this fatal weed.

And you leave your butt uncovered
there for all to see.
It’s indecent. It’s an eyesore.
Where’s your dignity?

Mother Nature trained you better.
Don’t ignite her ire.
Those who caravan with Camels
litter and start fires.

What is more, most smokers struggle
getting a deep breath.
When they try to do aerobics…
Ugh! …it feels like death.

So how ’bout it? Heed my fuming.
Ditch those coffin nails.
Set your future free from prison.
Make a break from jail.