PyeongChang 2018

Mr. S. can hardly wait until tomorrow night;

He loves the Olympics and has threatened that he might

DVR the whole darn thing and watch it night and day.

Doesn't want to miss a second of the Games they'll play.

After years of living with him, I no longer grouse

Even though the Winter Games, which so enchant my spouse,

Strike me as insanity...  A bunch of crazy kids

Hurtling down mountainsides on greased and fragile skids.

I feel for their mothers, holding their collective breath,

Fearing their beloved off-spring might be courting death

Flipping, flying, floating, freezing out there in the cold

Pushing past their limits in a quest to win the Gold.

I hope all the athletes who participate have fun;

Just the fact they're all in South Korea means they've won.

I'll be watching - cheering - warm and safely in my chair,

Wishing all the best of luck to everyone who's there.

Question Authorities

The mother of one of the missing victims of the ferry disaster in South Korea. (Photo/euronews.com)

Ferry full of high school students overturned and sank.

Hundreds are still missing and the hopes for rescue shrank

As a second night descended on the tragic scene.

I feel my heart breaking...  I'm the mother of a teen.

There are some survivors.  They ignored what they were told;

Left their cabins, put on vests, and braved the bitter cold.

Those who were obedient went back into their room;

Listened to authorities who sent them to their doom.

On the day the towers fell they also said to wait.

Those who listened to instructions left it 'til too late.

Maybe we should teach our kids the first thing to be done

If the shit has hit the fan - drop everything and run.

Don't let someone tell them things are going to be fine.

When the threat is serious don't meekly fall in line.

Question the authorities 'cause they're not always right.

Run goddammit! Save yourself - and me - from such a plight.

Across the Pond - North Korea; Tin Pot Saber Rattling

(Photo/English.teamuseum.cn)

Hear that tin-pot clanking sound? That's saber rattling.

It has grown so loud I think it's woken up Beijing.

Causing some alarm in South Korea and - what for?

Kim Jong-un's declared his country's in a state of war.

Hard to tell how serious the North Koreans are,

But I think they may have pushed it just a bit too far.

South Korea's President has said her country will

Go to war if they're attacked...  A thought that doesn't thrill

China or the Russians - not to mention the U.S.

Is Kim Jong-un listening?  That's anybody's guess.

So far it's been only words - this time - no overt acts,

And there are some hopeful signs he's finally facing facts:

People in his country are severely under-fed.

He'd be out of luck with half his population dead.

U.S. has positioned ships and bombers off his coast

Just to make it very clear; should he attack - they're toast.

Across the Pond - North Korean Missile Launch

If you believe that North Korea's missile program is for peaceful purposes, then Kim Jong-un has some unicorns he wants to sell you.  (Photo/Hypervocal.com)

After years of trying, North Korea's  had success;

Launched a missile into space - a diplomatic mess.

Kim Jong-un has claimed the missile launch is not a threat.

South Korea and Japan aren't comforted, I bet.

Neither is America, 'cause he can reach us here, 

And he's just as crazy as his father was, I fear.

All the offers meant to help his people out, he scorns.

Now he says his scientists discovered unicorns.

Can those be the scientists who got him into space?

Helped a lunatic to threaten all the human race.

Or, are they the guys who helped enrich uranium?

Either way, it seems to me, those scientists are dumb.

There is not a nation in the region which is thrilled;

Nor impressed that North Korea's scientists are skilled.

I think that, despite his word that Kim Jong-un means well,

If they're buying that, he's got some unicorns to sell.

Across the Pond - North Korea

excerpted from an
Article first published as A Little Over 100 Days In - How Is Kim Jong-un Doing? on Technorati.

A little over 100 days in, is Kim Jong-un trying to out-crazy his dad?

President Obama's coming home from overseas.

He was in Korea where he told Kim Jong-un; Please,

Do remember that the food we've promised to you guys

Will not be delivered if your missile system flies.

He was there for meetings with world leaders to discuss

How they can secure their nukes and make it safe for us.

Right next door, a little North, a tin pot loony planned

To continue pushing Us.  Does he not understand

This is an election year - and not just in the States?

China, Russia, France have got a lot upon their plates.

North Korea's pushed too far I think.  I hope they learn

Soon, before they're stuck with watching all their bridges burn.

'though he doesn't face a vote, he does now face a test;

Will this brand new leader fall in line with all the rest?

It's an opportunity to see his people fed

And to show his neighbors North Korea's sanely led.