Chime:

Hi! 

Welcome back to “What it is”, where, with stories and poetry, we explore being a person in this world. 

And what we might want to do about that together. 

I’m Kevin Alan McGill.

Chime:

Okay so, let’s see what we have for this podcast.

Democracy

Steadfast as 

the gale-beset lighthouse,

as 

the coming dawn

Steadfast 

as the warming hearth

the iron-willed bridge to freedom

as the acknowledging nod, the comforting arm, the determined stride, the power of all as one

Democracy

Shaggy-haired, solid-bodied, calloused hands outstretched, 

handshake well-met

Steadfast

Democracy

Welcome friend.

Chime:

This next piece channels the poet Charles Bukowski who spent a great deal of time at the racetrack.

It would be nice to have a horse in this race.

It’s election day 

and 

I couldn’t give 

more of a shit.

All the blood shed

over the years 

to obtain the right to vote,

and the ballots are empty.

May the best horse win? 

Hell, the best horse doesn’t even make it to the gate, maybe not even to the paddock.

This is a race for hobbled horses. Whichever stumbles first past the post gets to eat all the grain and leave a pile of horseshit behind.

The other horses just wander off, grumbling neigh-sayers, waiting for the next chance at the feedbag.

A horse in the race, though.

Odds are poor; the gamblers handicapped.

The incumbent 

has been missing in action 

and will likely 

be returned 

to continue missing, 

just because. 

The challengers? 

Sacrificial lambs, 

just because.

I bet to show, 5 to 2 odds, safe,

Just means 

that there will be 

another race.

Never bet the longshot, 

it might just win

and, in celebration,

burn down the barn.

Do my duty, 

doing my duty, 

my duty done,

And that’s 

about 

it.

And I want for so much more.

I want a horse

in a race with real horses.

Mostly, I’m hoping that a real leader emerges,

a horse the other horses will follow right off the track.

Chime:

Okay so, such are the words of a Storyteller Poet who has learned the value of a poem, the worth of a story. 

To those who wish to strip us of our humanity, I say “not today”.

And hey, if you are concerned with the state of our democracies, check out my Democracy Page atkevinalanmcgill.com

Thank you for listening. Let’s get together again to explore more “what it is”.

toresi(Theme Music)