Verses from stories in today's New York Times. ** Trump Signs Hong Kong Democracy Legislation That Has Angered China. ** 5 Things to Avoid on Black Friday. ** Activists Build a Grass-Roots Alliance Against Amazon.

@ESCochrane

China sits at Hong Kong's door,

wanting to do more than roar.

But new sanctions will give pause,

manicuring down their claws.

There are times when we attune

ourselves to laws that are a boon.

***********************

@elissasanci

Black Friday buys turn out to be

lessons in futility.

Those bargains that seemed outta sight,

 taken home turn into blight.

Superfluous and overstocked

(with basement stairs completely blocked),

we now take up that ancient plaint:

"Where was all our darn restraint?"

Next year will be better, nu?

We'll melt our plastic into roux!

************************

@DavidStreitfeld

Amazon, untrammeled, lay

all across the USA;

penetrating crannied nook,

master of our pocketbook.

Grassroots then began to stir;

were they righteous, or a slur?

Either way, their little pricks

gave to Amazon some licks.

David and Goliath seem

caught up in a timeless dream.