eric sundin

16 January 16, 2009

That would be Sully,
not Bush, by golly!

As the outgoing President completes his farewell media tour (an sorry spectacle) Captain Chesley B. Sullenberger III magnificently emergency lands his airliner on the Hudson River. He, his crew, and those hurrying to the rescue put on a show that surely cannot be eclipsed anywhere in the world as far as courage and competence? As Mr Bush struts around cracking feeble jokes, assuring us what a good guy he is (strangely oblivious of the disasters he has created or contributed to) bragging about his tough decisions — Captain Sullenberger held the lives of his passengers in his own most capable hands. Since then the Captain is nowhere to be found. He has a job to attend to and probably considers what he did so splendidly only part of that job. On the Hudson we recognize which Americans to be proud of.

edited 08/25/17 1015

The Seller’s predacious:
her manners sebaceous
occasion loquacious
claims may be mendacious.

Where the Buyer’s voracious:
his character salacious
with demeanor vexatious
voicing complaints tenacious.

Why not Both try the audacious
striving toward perspicacious
with a show less ostentatious
even if proper flirtatious?

edited 10/08/19 0955

Fumbling yet another glass
over hors d’oeuvre platter
spouting platitudes in mass
Spare me such void natter!

Such vain, self absorbed rattle
in verbiage feckless
midst milling about cattle
dressed in tie & necklace

Voices shrill, blaring
breathlessly ‘reporting’
onslaught unsparing
conversation-thwarting

How did we turn admass?
Why so untoward
when a subject impasse
brings silence awkward?

Time’s up, we may leave
just smile & swoon
Hardly cause to grieve
bye, until soon!

+)
-admass = the segment of the public that is easily influenced by mass media (British)
-‘reporting’ = here: boorishly droning on about one’s own most mundane doings

edited 11/18/23 1900

She’s drop dead (not yet) gorgeous, vivacious.
Here & now, g-d willing way Yonder
audacious, tenacious & hellacious.
My wife of never ceasing wonder!

Her style & demeanor youthful.
Never caught even fibbing
engaging & often truthful
as so swift at ad libbing.

How did she do as a Mom?
for all her four offspring?
Sheer mom-entum & aplomb
a bottomless wellspring!

How’s she doing as Granny?
Clearly for her seven
a warm friend, not a nanny
strives to act as leaven.

And as a Neighbor & Friend?
What a neighborhood hit!
Someone on whom to depend
lending her sewing kit.

Never the ‘take pains’ planner
she’s snappy on the draw.
Duck! When she wields a spanner
we all scatter in awe!

No one knows better How to Intervene,
at work & at home: she’s The Reigning Queen!

(+)
-ad lib = without advance preparation
-aplomb = coolness and composure under strain
-audacious = disposed to venture or take risks
-hellacious = remarkably something
-leaven = an influence that works subtly to lighten or modify
-pains = take (great) pains to do something
-snappy = quick or sudden in action

edited 10/03/19 1640

Drilling by heedless fracking
oil is pumped emetic
keeps refineries cracking
in a race frenetic

Now, not until 2030
spills and plastic clog our gills
Earth’s water supply fouled dirty
leaves us sipping noxious spills

Now, not only by 2080
in climate catastrophe rife
comeuppance merciless & weighty
Humans left to horrific strife

Unreflective on how affronts amass:
Hubristic Humanity so crass
keeps making the inappropriate pass
Mother Earth is a virtuous lass

+)
-2030 = read: twentythirty

edited 01/14/24 1715

Gushing over ‘high society’
in such slack-jawed stupefaction?
Finding its crass impropriety
a never ceasing attraction?

Reading about celebs of means
(chauffeured in their limousines)
in check-out counter magazines?
If amusing, by all means!

But is it long term fulfilling
that what it might be instilling?

+)
stupefy = to put into a state of little or no sensibility; benumb the faculties of; put into a stupor.

edited 11/18/23 0745

She left ’Solidarity Among Workers’
of Russian People generous and tough
joined here ‘Me-First Apolitical Shirkers’
eager devour abundant, gleaming stuff

Yana’s road steep, long & hard
on feet, bags & credit card

Ever since setting that noble goal
of Costcoite she’s persisted
been excelling in her newfound role
quick, astute, shrewd & tightfisted

+)
-Costcoite: an ace category shopper at Costco
-Muscovite = in this case our neighbor Yana, formerly of Moscow, where her giggles still echoe in its abandoned streets …

edited 11/08/23 0700

If by bad luck
you are struck
got yourself stuck
in the muck:

Don’t take off amuck
or just quack, yak
or await good luck
or whine while slack.

To start getting unstuck
first scrounge up your pluck
maybe a 4-wheel truck.
Or just stay stuck, schmuck!

+)
-schmuck = (Yiddish) a jerk
-slack = avoid responsibilities and work, be idle

edited 06/30/19 1455

Of rosy hued vigor drained
off course veered, dropped anchor
‘Just’ causes no longer feigned
subsided rush, rancor

Hearing himself he cringes
pompous in the arcane
Laboring on the fringes
struggling with the mundane

No longer plagued in the throes
of fables lastly shorn
About nothing much he crows
gray, worn – but not forlorn

edited 04/02/23 1710

His life’s edging catastrophic:
Seldom hoisted a trophy
Spouted but faux philosophic
Wrote no endearing strophe

Field of ‘talents’ left too long fallow
guts now weak, motivation shallow

Still dreams of resuscitation
tries sally ahead full bore!
No time for procrastination
tries charge with a last gasp roar

as better a bullet in one’s heart
than fleeing and shot in one’s rear part!

edited 06/18/25 0940