Heroes and Freedom

Heroes and Freedom

Yesterday was town meeting in Monkton,Vermont

And the other towns across the state.

We managed to vote absentee,

Fred took the ballots to the often closed town office.

Yesterday,

I thought about going,

Then couldn't, wouldn't, didn't go.

I ended up at the doctor's office, my home away from home.

The 20 dollar copay worth it.

No matter the circumstances,

I decided 

I couldn't go.

Oh yes, the catch 22 of New England town meeting.

Fashioned after Quaker town meeting,

Separation church and state?....nah, it's too quaint. Must be preserved.

Using military Roberts Rules

And

 we are all peaceable,

Until we are disagreed with.

Aye, nay, pass, fail.

The voters present voice vote millions to be milked from taxpayers,

Like myself,

It still didn't motivate me to face those people,

Those people who vote,

Proudly, loudly.

While I cannot.

No character flaw ,

I was learning,

Insisting to myself,

I am only  one.

If the meeting makes me sick,

I learned long ago I am not alone in any emotion.

Someday it Will change,

Not yesterday.

I listened instead to the leader of Israel

And

Heard his message,

A Heroes' message.

The Hero,

Maligned by select crabby politicians

And

Their mouthpieces,

Teaching me

 the lesson  of keeping calm,

Deliberate,

Not a speck

Of ambivalence,

While delivering basic information

And the plan of action.

My plan of action

Was to first heal my wounds,

Visible

And

Invisible.

The town report sat on the kitchen table.

I didn't even peek at it  this year.

Never looked up the corrections posted somewhere.

I am done with town meeting,

The quaint community lunch

The polite conversation,

The dagger eyes

I remembered from a past life.

No more yeah and nay

And you can't

Or we won't

Or

You aren't from around here are you?

My oblivion will cost me

Freedom.

The freedom to vote, one person,

One vote.

The taxed vote.

It will be up to the future residents

Of

 Monkton,Vermont,

To find their heroes,

To plot their own course.

For me, resignation fits my mood.

So if 10 percent decides the affairs of the town,

Eventually the 90% will rebel.

I will be heading south.

Meg 3.4.15