The Year in Review: 2017 in the USA

The year started out with a kick in the rump

With the inauguration of Donald Trump,

Which was overshadowed one day later

By the Women's March, which was many times greater.

Trump continued tweeting--his words and actions

Really amounting to nothing but major distractions.

He kept certain targets within his sights:

Immigration and LGBT rights.

Oh, and health care, too. Let's not forget

How many people and groups he has upset.

The year saw an increasing acceleration

Of the Mueller Russia/Trump investigation,

Which Donald Trump has constantly tried to defuse

By calling it a witch hunt and fake news.

 

Also as the new commander-in-chief he

Gave us a brand new word to use: covfefe.

Republicans who attacked their leader at first,

Later showed their feelings had reversed--

Especially those who will benefit greatly

From a horrible tax bill passed only lately.

(Some think that Putin has some dirt on them.

If that came out, wouldn't it be a gem?)

This year we saw the repeal of net neutrality

As we start to deal with a bleak reality.

Don't forget the Trump trip to the Far East,

Which ended up being a big flattery feast.

Many fear our safety is more unsound

As Trump and Kim Jong Un go round and round.

 

Trump boasts of how he's always hired

The best people; but notice how many he's fired,

Or how many have left his admin team!

A shoddy reputation is hard to redeem.

We've seen racism lift its ugly head,

And not denouncing it, Trump instead

Talked about fine people on each side!

He is constantly taking us for a ride.

Hurricanes in the South and in Puerto Rico

Brought great devastation to our eco-

System, and huge, destructive fires out West

Pointed to issues that must be addressed.

To show he's one of life's shining beacons,

Trump threw paper towels to the Puerto Ricans.

 

But Trump and fans continue to deny

The effects of climate change, and we know why.

Over 300 mass shootings this year*

Plagued our nation, but lobbyists persevere.

We saw the fall of many well-known men

For sexual misconduct, and once again

We ask why some men feel they're above the law

And wonder when they'll meet their last hurrah.

This is only the tip of the iceberg, true--

Only some of the hell that we've gone through.

A lot is happening in the world, but we,

Instead of seeing the forest, see one tree.

Let's NOT repeat this year to the letter;

Let's hope that 2018 is much, much better.

 

-by Bob B (12-31-17)

*tracked by the nonprofit Gun Violence Archive