WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ___I have fun as a member of a poetry/writers group that meets every Friday – just for fun, growth, and communication. We have one major rule – no politics! Also some implied rules, like no critiquing, and no limitation on style. Ross M is really good at rhyming so we’d be surprised if he ever brought free verse to us. We are equally surprised when one of us [15 or so] participants brings meter and rhyme to the table. But what we write does get us into enthusiastic discussions of shared history and hopes.
Each week we choose a theme for the following week. For Friday, October 2, 2026 we selected “Whatever happened to ___.” When Ross presented his poem he made it clear that he had worked to balance the presentation in respect to the intent behind the “no politics” rule, while at the same time expressing what probably all of us were thinking. With his permission I offer it to you here.
WHATEVER HAPPENED TO ___
POLITICIANS WHO ARE POSITIVE? LATELY, I AM SO CONFUSED.
DO THEY REALLY SERVE US OR ARE WE JUST TOOLS TO BE USED?
I AM FINDING, MORE AND MORE, THEIR INTELLIGENCE IS IN DOUBT
PLEASE DON’T TELL ME WHO NOT TO VOTE FOR; MAKES ME WANT TO SHOUT.
I WANT MY LEADERS TO BE COMPETENT; AND HAVE A MORAL COMPASS TOO.
GENDER, COLOR, HERITAGE DOESN’T MATTER; JUST BE A CAPABLE YOU.
STAY LOYAL TO THE JOB AND TO US, NOT THE PARTY OR THE CAUCUS.
REMAIN OPEN AND HUMBLE, REMEMBER THAT YOU’RE ONE OF US.
WHY DON’T THEY USE VERBS THAT INCLUDE: LISTEN, COOPERATE
CONSIDER, COLLABORATE AND EVEN COMMUNICATE? THEN LEGISLATE.
NO, RATHER THEY RESIST THE OTHER SIDE. SEEM EAGER TO PICK A FIGHT.
CIVILITY SEEMS DEAD, THEY BEHAVE LIKE THEY’RE NOT VERY BRIGHT.
WE REMEMBER THE “GOOD OLD DAYS” WHEN THEY ACTED LIKE STATESMEN;
THEIR WORK MADE THEM PROUD, RESPECT WAS HIGH, THE PRESS WAS FAIR.
DIFFICULT ISSUES WERE DEBATED, PUT INTO A BILL, VOTED ON BACK THEN.
TODAY ITS EXECUTIVE ACTION, NO BUDGETS ARE PASSED, AGAIN AND AGAIN.
REGARDLESS OF PARTY, THE ELECTED BECOME WEALTHY; HOW CAN THAT BE?
NO ONE SEEMS TO CARE. WHAT HAPPENED TO OLD-FASHIONED MORALITY?
IS IT INSIDER TRADING, CRONYISM, BRIBERY, FRAUD OR OUTRIGHT THEFT?
WHAT IS TRUTH ANYMORE? I CAN’T BELIEVE EITHER THE RIGHT OR THE LEFT.
I BELIEVE WE WILL CONTINUE TO BE BLESSED, AND WE WILL SUCCEED;
OUR CREATOR ALWAYS GIVES US EXACTLY WHATEVER WE NEED.
WE WILL THRIVE AND FIND REASONS TO LIVE, NEW WAYS TO COPE.
COMPETENT FOLKS WILL LEAD US, WE WILL STILL HAVE REASON TO HOPE.
ROSS M…
I hope you’ve enjoyed this and even have an urge to comment. Has Ross said what many of us want to say? I’ll tune him in to this blog entry and happily make him aware of any reactions. In fact, I hope I may even get him to “follow” me here.
Love it! And he is absolutely spot on!
Thanks, Pam. It is a balancing act to address the issue without evoking rage. He did a nice job.