I dragged my son out of bed Tuesday morning to vote. He didn't want to vote, didn't like either of the candidates, was tired of voting for people who didn't win, etc., etc., being his usual Mr. Contrary Man. I drove him to the polling place and threatened to leave him to walk home unless he voted for the right man. Now that control of the Senate has come down to who wins the Senate race in Virginia I'm telling my son that it is his vote that made the difference. His, and the votes of 7000 other good citizens who maybe didn't think voting was worth the trouble, but who voted anyhow.
So, I don't want to gloat, but my spirits were definitely lifted by the election results.
By Robert Browning:
The year’s at the spring,
And day’s at the morn;
Morning’s at seven;
The hill-side’s dew-pearl’d;
The lark’s on the wing;
The snail’s on the thorn;
God’s in His heaven—
All’s right with the world!
Siegfried Sassoon
Everyone Sang
Everyone suddenly burst out singing;
And I was filled with such delight
As prisoned birds must find in freedom,
Winging wildly across the white
Orchards and dark green fields; on, on, and out of sight.
Everyone’s voice was suddenly lifted,
And beauty came like the setting sun.
My heart was shaken with tears, and horror
Drifted away…O but everyone
Was a bird; and the song was wordless; the singing will never be done.
