Leap day

I didn't plan on writing anything about the election. I wrote it anyway.

Every four years

We get one of these.

It coincides

With electing a new president

Except

At the turn of the century.

Every four years

We need an extra day

To help get our calendar

Back in order

With the sun

With the seasons

Except

At the turn of the century.

Sometimes it seems

We need more than an extra day

To tackle

What’s before us

What’s behind us.

It’s all a figment

Anyway,

The way we count days

And years

Even seasons.

This year

We elect a new president.

We need more

Than an extra day.

Privilege

I am not looking forward to the next election, and the round after round after round of privileged folk being unaware of so much. I find it, well, interesting that countries with a poor track record in recognizing that women are 100 per cent human will elect a woman to lead their country.

Privilege:

So many people

Spell it wrong.

So many

Can’t claim it,

Much less

Spell it.

I wonder

If it’s so difficult to spell

In other languages

In other countries

Even

On the moon

With no atmosphere

Whatsoever.

Lost

I awakened with this today.  I figure this experience informs a part of my calling to stand in the middle of things.  The man who was elected that day is still the bishop.   His consecration was six months after the election on a converted basketball court.  Six months later I was able, finally, to ascent to his election.  It did not come easy.

Almost twenty years ago,

I lost,

Profoundly lost.

Only a voter

But I lost.

The election

Was for bishop.

I voted for the person

I thought

Best qualified.

Someone else was elected

On the first ballot.

At the announcement

The Cathedral erupted

In wild applause.

Everyone was invited to stand,

Sing an Easter hymn.

I was bereft.

I have voted in at least

Five bishop elections

In an almost thirty year tenure

As priest.

This is the only election

I remember.

The only one.

Every detail.

Every single detail.