Where is Martin Van Buren
now that America needs him?
(glaring up from a creek
bed in Novato California)
a Marin Van Buren frottage!
© 2024 by bob plainwilder
a Martin Van Buren frottage, part I
//Tag: Urban Poetry
//a Martin Van Buren frottage, part II
//
(Where is Martin Van Buren, now that America needs him?)
when Martin Van Buren appears
we give a toot.
we are the only duly recognized
Martin Van Buren authority.
we’ve learned well from history
what would Van Buren wear?
what would Van Buren say?
what made V.B. presidential?
the Martin Van Buren look.
the Martin Van Buren way.
Martin Van Buren’s greatest hits —
a Martin Van Buren frottage!
Martin Van Buren’s hairline
evoked his life and time
his bulbous nose and pointed chin
the world might never see again…
a Martin Van Buren frottage!
© 2024 by bob plainwilder
ode to george grosz
//
wild mongoose of an artist
in the social fray
turned hot lights on everything
a prophet of his day
grosz gonzo grosz
extremely rare visionaire
his thoughtful winning shine
needles a civilization in decline
authoritarian decadence in
brushstrokes big and bold
grosz unequaled social critic
prescient foretold
casting poignant spotlights upon
cultural degeneration
bureaucrats misguided
moneyed interest waving fist
seeing through the careless snipes
who’d wipe goodness from our midst
stout hearted artists like george grosz
today are sorely missed
© 2024 by bob plainwilder
grinding metal corporate teeth
//
way down deep in dinjyville
waitin for a train
stumblebum plinkin phone
beneath monster office tower
people stuck in mires
worlds away from real fulfillment
in the maelstrom of each day
everywheres another cranky
smart device encrusted soul
sinkin down into some hole
nuthin much to say
bleary eyed and far away
disappointed also
danglin’ off this hapless joe
grinding metal corporate teeth
that don’t let go
Drawing above by Frost Newton
© 2022 by bob plainwilder
Welcome – The San Francisco Review
//
Arts, Letters & Culture from SF Bay & Beyond.
Issue #101, Now – Contents:
Have a Pressing Problem?
//There on Sacramento Street
they sit you in the catbird seat!
Finery in need of care?
Peninou he’ll meet you there.
Gamely Pierre Peninou
furthering your garment’s worth
measuring its length and girth…
In a hurry? Just don’t worry.
Ring up Pierre Peninou!
The inscrutable logo on his company hat,
such élan evoked in that.
Tasteful Pierre Peninou!
Pierre’s trending collar stays.
Engineering proper plays.
Comfy with the finer things,
sparkly suit enabling!
He’ll unwrinkle, block, repair, cuff & collar
skirts, culottes, sweats, blazers.
Even grungy laundry bags
re-done with a winning splash!
Velvet capes your emblem?
Get some pressed with dash!
If you want to you can have
them retrofitted too.
Crafty Pierre Peninou.
He can reinforce, depill
flat cuffs cold… that’s old hat.
He can stain guard or repel
stuff that no one else will do.
Outfits tailor made for you,
just ask Pierre Peninou!
© 2023 by bob plainwilder
uniquely dandy radio
//for Ken Freedman
tuning into old skool style
dial catching FMU
broadcasting essential spew
WFMU
uniquely quirky radio
a pillar of community
home to surreal flights uh fancy
FMU’s the best
celebrating east and west
ingeniously inventive
tuneage that inspires
fires all new takes on life
wiring up communities
FMU unmatched
espousing cool inventive ways
WFMU
© 2023 by bob z plainwilder
Music and Poetry Audio
//The following tracks are performances by author Robert Lane Wilder with music by Anthony Sepulveda.
To check out free audio clips from this author, click here
Da Defiant Ones
//Sidney P. & Tony C. playing
Da Defiant Ones!
a tres significant filmic comment
1950 Jim Crow south:
one man black, one man white
a desperate bedraggled pair
In a tawdry deep south chain gang
racing off one day
brutal lawmen closing in
aiming to blow out their brains…
Sidney P. & Tony C. playing
Da Defiant Ones!
Insane existential threats & terror
dis film did address much that’s still not done…
sadly social problems
keep so many on the run!
Hats off to its shiny points
Hollywood’s inventive drum,
dis shtory told a poignant way…
Sidney P. & Tony C. playing
Da Defiant Ones!
© 2023 by bob plainwilder