Voting

One of my favorite poets, Dennis O’Brien, from Australia, just keeps writing limericks that shine a bright light on so much of what is going wrong in our world right now and how vital it is that we look the truth in the eye and start dealing with it. He’s a master of the social satire poem, and I don’t purpose to set myself up as his peer. However, his work has challenged me to use what poetic gift I have to at least say something from this side of the “pond,” so here’s my two cents’ worth to add a little more food for thought and a little more fuel to the fire.

WHAT WILL YOU DO IF . . . ?

I am tired of this guy, Mr. O.
I’m thinking he really should go.
But there’s some that believe
He has tricks up his sleeve,
And he has some surprises in store.

It’s conjectured he’ll stir up some strife,
And when hell’s broken loose, and hate’s rife,
Then he’ll cry, “Martial Law,”
And our freedoms, they’ll fall,
But he’ll claim it’s about saving life.

So the white house would remain his home,
Oval office desk chair still his throne,
‘Til the strife could be fixed
All elections he’d nix,
And a third term conveniently own.

Such conjectures: I pray they are lies.
Our forefathers would bitter tears cry
If they had to behold
As our arms we just fold
And allow blood-bought freedom to die.

~~~

In the United States, today is Women’s Equality Day — resulting from an act of Congress in 1971. It reminded me of something Susan B. Anthony said concerning battling for equality and rights. She said that sometimes a battle just needs to be fought, even when you know you can’t win it. Those words have come back to me more than once and given me encouragement when I was fighting battles that I felt sure I would not win on the first go-round. Regardless of the outcome, those battles needed to be fought.

It’s a truth that we would all do well to remember. There are times in life when the first time we fight a battle, we still lose, but the fact that we fought it to the end releases revelation and encouragement to others who will return to it in the future. And by the second, third, or fourth time that battle is taken up — perhaps even in another generation — the momentum gained has reached a level that ushers in the victory. If there’s something WORTH fighting for, don’t weigh the chances of victory or defeat — JUST FIGHT THE BATTLE.

~~~