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The Voter Once upon a Over many an article,
editorial and ads galore, While I nodded, nearly
napping, suddenly there came a tapping, As of some one gently
rapping, rapping out, “Remember Gore.” `'Tis some Democrat,' I
muttered, `rapping out, “Remember Gore. - Only this, and nothing
more.' Ah, distinctly I remember it
was in a bleak November, When each Eagerly I wished no repeat;
- vainly I had sought to retreat From the analysts so replete
with stories of his loss, “Poor Gore” For the rare and radiant
moment when I’d hear no more “Poor Gore,” Nameless here for evermore. Now the silken sad uncertain
rustling of booth voting curtains Thrilled me - filled me with
fantastic terrors never felt before; For my vote was undecided at
this time. I stood repeating `'Tis some late pollster
entreating entrance at my condo door - Some rare late pollster
entreating entrance at my condo door; - This it is, and nothing
more,' Presently my soul grew
stronger; hesitating then no longer, `Democrat or Republican,
your forgiveness I implore; Nadar brochures sent me
napping, and so gently you came rapping, And so faintly you came
tapping, tapping at my condo door, Now I’ll answer all your
questions.' - here I opened wide the door; - Darkness there, and nothing
more. Deep into that darkness
peering, long I stood there wondering, fearing Independent Greens no voter
ever welcomed in before But the silence was
unbroken, and the darkness gave no token, And the only question spoken
were the whispered words, `Once more?' ’An election like 2000?”
asked I. Back I heard, `Once more?' Merely this and nothing
more. Back into the condo turning,
all my soul within me burning, Soon again I heard a tapping
somewhat louder than before. `Surely,' said I, `some late
campaigner raps at my window lattice; Let me see then, what their
spin is, and their promises explore - Let my heart be thrilled by
pledges and their promises explore; - 'Tis hot air and nothing
more!' Open here I flung the
shutter, when, with many a flirt and flutter, In stepped a Voter,
representing all the votes of yore, Nays for candidates who
scared me, ayes for candidates who swayed me; Votes for men and votes for
ladies, votes to come 2004. This grand voter sat beside
me, waiting for 2004 - Perched, and sat, and
nothing more. Then this Spectral Voter
beguiling my sad fancy into smiling By the grave and stern
decorum of the countenance she wore Bleak her look and long she
stared at me sitting so ill- prepared that Random picked I, (Yes I
dared it!) Bush Dubya for 2004. “Tell my why Republicans
Bush should not win my vote and more?” Quoth the
Voter—“Nevermore.” I marveled at this ungainly
Voter to hear discourse so plainly, Though her answer little
meaning—little relevancy bore; You mean, “You cannot help
agreeing that no living thinking being Ever yet would admit to
heeding Dubya for four years more? Remember campaign money
trails from Dick Cheney to the war!” Cried the Voter,
“Nevermore!” And the Voter sitting lonely
by my condo door spoke only That one word, as if her
soul in that one word she did pour, Nothing further then she
uttered – not a ballot then she fluttered- Till I scarcely more than
muttered – “Other friends have tried before, Tried to sway my vote by
reason, but I’m undecided as before.” Quoth the voter,
“Nevermore!” Startled at the stillness
broken by reply so aptly spoken, “Doubtless,” said I,
“What she utters is her only stock and store, Sent by Democratic masters
when unmerciful disasters Followed fast and followed
faster when Republicans galore Filled the Congress, passed
their laws, and Democracy ignored.” Quoth the Voter,
“Nevermore.” But the Voter still
beguiling my undecided soul to smiling Straight I questioned her on
terrorists, Ben Laden and the war; Then, with my heart sinking,
I betook myself to linking Fancy unto fancy, thinking
what this Spectral Voter of yore- Just what this grim,
ungainly, gaunt, and Spectral Voter of yore Meant in croaking,
“Nevermore.” This I sat engaged in
guessing, with no syllable expressing The horror of empire
building, the march to the Iraqi war. This and more I sat
divining, with my head pounding, reclining. Thought of job
markets declining now that work is shipped off shore. Losses only silver lining
allows Big Business to grow more. This can’t
happen—Nevermore! Then, methought the air grew
denser, perfumed from an unseen censer Swung by oilmen in the
Arctic drilling deep and killing many score. “Wretch!” I cried.
“Killing trees God hath gave thee, raising arsenic levels for me Respite – respite and be
done ye, with your stockpiling oil stores. The wealthy tax cuts allows
fine dining, yet health care’s declining more Quoth the Voter,
“Nevermore.” Saddam, said I, ‘thing of
evil!-prophet still, if man or devil! Whether Bush sent troops
unsanctioned tempest tossed thee here ashore, Desolate yet all undaunted,
on that desert land enchanted- On this homefront by horror
haunted – tell me truly, I implore- Are there – are there
weapons in Quote the Voter,
“Nevermore.” “Voter!” said, I, is
Bush evil? President still, if man or devil! By that Heaven that bends
above us- by that God Bush does adore- Bush says which couple may
not marry and what child she must carry. Are emails and the library
and phone calls private any more? Yes! We must rise up and cry
out that we can take his rule no more Cheered the Voter,
“Nevermore!” “Be that our word of sign
of parting, my mind is changed! I shrieked upstarting I’m back
into the campaign before the election’s lost forevermore! Changing undecided
votes will be a token of my change
of heart as spoken Leave me now to plan
unbroken – a quick campaign from door to door Give me sharp
words for undecideds for my campaign from
door to door Cheered the Voter,
“Nevermore.” And the Voter, never
flitting, still is sitting, still is sitting On a stack of paper ballots,
just inside my condo door; But my eyes have now been
opened to what demon Bush is hoping And the light from Kerry
coping gives me hope for us once more; And my vote’s not
undecided. Kerry’s got it.
That’s for sure! Bush and Cheney - nevermore! |
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