In Meeting

In the act of meeting,
In Congress, a body politic;
but unlike a select few, direct democracy
people showing up, standing up,
speaking their minds, sharing from their hearts
out of their fears, out of their duty,
their sense of responsibility for our world
even in hard times, standing up,
speaking with a clear voice –
that now was the time,
this was our moment
to gather as a people in the hall
and affirm a change, though there is cost,
a change that will reap rewards
both real and intangible
to spend so that we may save
to act so that our heirs
will share a little more
a better world passed on
to them; in meeting today
we did those who came before proud
honoring their sacrifice, and the beliefs
they have fought and died for alive
once more, gathering together
a people acting out of duty,
out of right, out of responsibility
one person, one vote, in open meeting
before our neighbors accountable
for this season, and a future yet to come

March 14, 2009
Town Meeting
Pembroke, NH
on the passing of warrants to start
mandatory recycling and
automated trash collection