page 3 --
d. marshall
mo mo mo po po poetry:
As HEART'S VOICE managing editor and as a contributing poet, d. marshall attempts to address the subliminal/subconscious oppression of girl genders by incorporating genderdriven spellings.
I voted today
at a middle school a block away.
I walked through scads of fuzzy-faced kids
milling about, absently waiting for the first bell
Winding between to the cafeteria,
presented identification
to volunteers sitting along benches opposite
long folding tables holding reams of lists.
One searched and pointed for me to sign
on the line indicated to verify address.
The name-taker used a ruler and drew a red line
through name, address and recently added signature.
I took the proffered ballot to the booth --
a tiny milking stall, or a DMV picture position
minus the line of tape on the floor.
Sild my ballot under affixed pages, and
whipped out my already chosed sample choices.
Did not deliberate, just matched up numbers,
Punch, punch, punch, and on down the line.
Slipped the ballot ticket off its pegs into a blue,
like government checks come in, envelope,
turned around and out of the stall, and
returned the envelope to the volunteer, who
gave me the top stub and a red, white and blue
"I Voted" sticker
having one and a portion of a star.
Only one curious student hovered around
trying to understand the voting process.
I left the cafeteria, back among still-gathering throngs
of students and looked at young, self-absorbed eyes
not watching me leave
In less than ten minutes of my influence,
my shaping, if you will, of their futures, as
I voted for change today.
EVERY DAY
Gift of a random act in April
July's jewels reflected in children's eyes
A seagull soaring through Septembe
Frantic heartbeats into February
June's silly junebug jumbles
looking forward to October leaves
from May's mighty green explosion
Homegrown tomatoes in August
after January's jostling germinations
Settling new year flurries by March
November gives thanks for family
December simply closes doors on years
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