Year End 2016

Twenty and sixteen, over in a flash,

Remembered it will be, for the Trump and Clinton clash.

To follow up Obama, on the presidential throne,

Hillary or the Donald, a poorer choice we've never known.

The one a scheming liberal, always above the law,

The other an inflated ego, looking at himself with awe.

She had more votes by millions, and allegedly more knowledge,

With deplorables in his corner, he took the electoral college.

This year we had some horrors, all of them causing fright,

Such as the Zika virus, spread by a mosquito bite.

Bombings in Brussels, Belgium, a crazed driver in Nice, France,

Fanatics bent on killing, innocent victims of circumstance.

In Oakland a warehouse fire, where 36 did die,

In Orlando a nightclub shooting, that leaves you asking why?

In Aleppo death and carnage, by Assad a true barbarian,

If you don’t know where that is, don’t ask a libertarian.

In sports we had nice action, led by a guy named Manning,

Who then retired at the top, leaving Newton also ran-ning.

Always much excitement, in the world of college ball,

Villanova at the buzzer, leaving Carolina feeling small.

LeBron brought it home in Cleveland, after going down three to one,

Despite a Warrior record season, 88 games they won.

In Chicago they're still celebrating, the kids, the wives, and hubbies,

After a century long hiatus, the victory of their Cubbies.

Again we lost some great ones, some women and some men,

Mrs. Brady Florence Henderson, the astronaut John Glenn.

Gene Wilder and David Bowie, the word genius they evince,

The doves are all still crying, at the sudden loss of Prince.

Muhammad Ali was the greatest, in a fight no one was calmer,

He mixed lemonade and tea, the golf king Arnold Palmer.

Fidel Castro was a menace, a commie tyrant like no other,

In Cuba they’re still suffering, in the shackles of the brother.

In the markets things were choppy, until the election gave direction,

Many hedge funds lost real money, buying useless put protection.

In long/short returns were tough, being down or flat the norm,

As the small caps and the value, did strongly outperform.

Passive flows keep rising, bringing higher correlation,

From bonds to stocks some say, we’re in a generational rotation.

Uncertain is the future, try as we might to see it squinting,

The Fed too knows not what’s coming, or the harms of money printing.

Populism’s all the rage, as people 'round the world revolt,

The status quo's being upended, at the speed of Phelps and Bolt.

Paul Revere said the Brits were coming, from the EU now they're leaving,

For the European experiment, it may be time to start the grieving.

The Bushes and the Clintons, their time it has now passed,

America wants change, in its political crew and cast.

And what about Chris Christie, who drove his career off of a bridge,

He’s somewhere back in Jersey, seeking solace in his fridge.

So the election is now over, though the tweets are just beginning,

He says he'll make us great again, and that we’ll all get used to winning.

Don't lose much sleep for Hillary, she won't suffer from starvation,

She's saved up quite a nest egg, in that dirty Bill & Hill Foundation.

After eight years of his lectures, we won't much Obama miss,

As we head into a world, of pure Republican bliss.

In this year's holiday season, please don't be a Scrooge,

Let's pray for one another, and for this Trump thing to be huge.