Blessings on you, all my friends,
as you go out to vote today.

May no pillow malfunction, no mis-set alarm
delay you. May your coffee perk
and your toast pop up unburnt.

May no deer or bottleneck
block your journey. May the lines
be short, your ID and registration ready.

May you find the real drop box,
and no Republican fake.

May the levers pull smoothly,
and the rectangles fill with black.
May your reward sticker stay stuck
to your lapel all day.

Because you deserve it.

You love animals; you may hate hunting.
But this was a rogue elephant, insane
in musth, crushing cars and villagers.
It had to be killed.

We will not take trophies,
no ivory keepsakes, no foot-on-head selfies.
We will burn it decently and with regret
for the noble animal it once was.
And then we will start to rebuild.

Published on What Rough Beast, 11.2.20

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