.

Brainwashed and Hopeless

My old friend is a doctor—very bright,
But he just said to me the GOP,
Opposed equality and human rights,
Here’s how such nonsense likely came to be.

Conservatives must not be in his sphere,
Or else it wasn’t politics they spoke.
So everything he watches, reads, and hears,
Is solely talking points among the woke.

I’ve thought of “coming out” politically,
But value’s found in friendships held since youth,
And there’s some risk that he might cancel me,
The Left can’t handle inconvenient truth.

His self-induced brainwashing’s so complete,
He’d never hear the music in my song.
His mind so poisoned, nothing I’d entreat,
Would make him see that he’s completely wrong.

.

.

Two Types of Thought Today

There seem to be two camps of people now.
The first looks to the truth for what they know.
The second disregards all facts somehow,
And just believes what they wish to be so.

.

.

Projection

You always learn what Democrats have brewing,
By what they claim Republicans are doing.

.

.

The “Ascension” of Kamala

Despite the wicked Jill’s determination,
To use Joe past his expiration date,
It’s obvious his mind’s degeneration,
Is what will surely soon decide his fate.

And given politics that likely means
The Dems, whose platform is that Trump’s the liar,
Will craft convenient words behind the scenes,
The MSM will use to deify her.

.

.

Hummingbirds

Their delicate, idyllic, whirring wings,
Make them, methinks, the loveliest of things.

.

.

Russel Winick recently started writing poetry after ending a long legal career. He resides in Naperville, Illinois.

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20 Responses

  1. Cynthia Erlandson

    These are just marvelous, Russel! I am laughing out loud. “To use Joe past his expiration date” is brilliant. (Not to mention true, as all of these poems are).

    Reply
  2. Roy Eugene Peterson

    The first four poems cleverly illuminate the true state of the hopeless politically impaired. I agree Jill is behind the one on the throne and pushing for all she is worth, which is not very much.

    Reply
  4. Brian A. Yapko

    These are all great Russel — funny, sharp, observant, accurate. Brainless & Hopeless and the Ascension of Kamala both especially hit the mark. American politics is an unending source of great satire. I wish it were less so.

    Reply
  5. Warren Bonham

    Entertaining and accurate across the board. I think I know your Doctor friend, or it may sadly be that there are many like him.

    Reply
    • Russel Winick

      Thanks Warren. He poses a challenge for me, but it’s comforting to know that I’m not alone.

      Reply
  6. Joseph S. Salemi

    About your first poem — doctors may be competent physicians, but they are frequently political idiots.

    I’ve been in academia for over fifty years. I can assure you that many people with advanced degrees and scholarly publications are as stupid as bags of rocks when it comes to politics and government.

    Don’t worry about being cancelled. You don’t need friends who “can’t handle inconvenient truth.”

    Reply
    • Russel Winick

      Joe – I’ve had that thought as well, but I’m loathe to risk a close 50 year friendship. We stood up for each other at our weddings.

      Reply
    • Patricia Allred

      Hi Joseph, Enjoyed your comment to Russell!! I am glad to say, my physician is a GOP and Trump supporter! Even better, I read some of my poerty to him. while wearing MAGA gear. A delightful Republican! As as you!
      Can relate to the “bagsof rocks of rocks.” Ugh! I know too many of them.

      Reply
  7. Margaret Coats

    Russel, your couplet on hummingbirds fits them perfectly. It’s small and delicate just like the subject, and timeless enough for any collection of bird poetry as well.

    The “Ascension” is the most troubling of the timely poems. I’m afraid it could supply you with plenty of material for future work. More than words are needed to “deify” someone, however much speaker or writer may try.

    Hold on to that hopeless friend if you can–which is not certain. You are right about the value of long-held friendships. They are founded on many experiences more real than his opinions about what he “wishes to be so.”

    Reply
    • Russel Winick

      Margaret – I love everything that you say. Your ability to comprehend my poems, and see things in them that sometimes I don’t, is truly amazing to me. I really can’t thank you enough.

      Reply
  8. Cheryl Corey

    Love the “Hummingbirds” couplet and use of “methinks”.

    Reply
    • Russel Winick

      Thanks so much, Cheryl. I was very happy – unusually so – with that poem as well.

      Reply
    • Russel Winick

      My pleasure, Sally – glad you liked them and thanks for commenting.

      Reply
  10. Daniel Kemper

    Love “expiration date.” Love the hummingbird. Agree with Margaret–hang on to friends if you can. I’ve got friends at all extremes of any spectrum you could want. Sometimes the dance is difficult, but that’s just it: There’s something more to human connectivity than similarity. Back to Eliot for a quick flash, quoting from the hip: “And so I pray you to forgive both bad and good.”

    Reply

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