POEM: Ode to the traffic light

One day as I sat at a traffic light, I was very disturbed by the political atmosphere of our country. As my mind raced, I noticed that all of the cars were obeying the traffic light and thought about how this simple technology keeps us all equal. I didn’t know the circumstances of the people in the other cars but we all respected the road guide uniformly.

Journalism threatened,

Institutions questioned

Technology has swollen 

As human encounters stolen.

Yet the ubiquitous traffic light

Embodies our democracy’s fight.

Hail to the red, amber and green

Where wealth and power are not seen

“You will stop” – a stern demand

Equally obeyed across the land.

A steady beam on streets well lit

When idles are required, all must sit.

PAC funding does not guarantee

Your expensive cars will be set free

Partisans can swagger before the race

But rude insults won’t change the pace.

Here corruption is not the fix

Consistency – fairness, not politics

If only the president had the know

To wait and stop before his go.

CARLA DVORACEK

Coeur d’ Alene