(I am participating in the March Slice of Life challenge via the Two Writing Teachers site. Slice of Life is the idea of noticing the small moments. I have been a participant for many years and each year, I wonder if I will have the energy to write every day. This year, I am going to try to coincide it with my daily poetry writing, and intend to compose small poems on small moments. We’ll see how it goes …)
Day Four
The first face I meet
greets me warmly,
a neighbor as a host of
an Election Day gatheringI’m led to the volunteers
at tables, situated at seats,
rolls of residents on paper,
fingers along city streetsTwo sheets — national and
local —and a black marker for
coloring the oval, dark
please, I’m reminded,
shaded beneaththen its a play in reverse,
the machine opens its mouth
to feed on my forms,
and we’re biding goodbyes,
voting complete
Peace (in the booth and beyond),
Kevin
I threw my mail-in ballot in the box this morning and went on my merry way. It was convenient, but I kind of miss standing in line, and getting my name checked off, then proceeding to the voting booth. Just something about that ritual…
The act of taking time out of the day, coming together as a neighborhood, chatting people up … the election event is a reminder that we are part of something larger in the world … it’s good to be reminded of that from time to time …
Kevin
I love the point of view of the poem and the sense of community you created. There was some tension at my voting site – arguments over where people are allowed to stand, if everyone should have to take both envelopes etc. Peace –yes.
It might be why I procrastinate when filling out my mail ballot…I always end up hand delivering it to the polling place near my school. I guess I need to make that in-person effort while still enjoying the convenience of voting at home.
Are you planning to gather your poems at the end of the month and “publish” them as a set in some way?
Kim
Hi Kim — I don’t know yet what will happen with my poems .. any ideas?
Kevin