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The Sunday Poem: Jules Nyquist... Someone Stole My Obama Sign.

If ever there were an election awash in money, this is it. Fortunately, in a political version of El Niño, most of the national TV ads seem to be passing north of us. Here in the Land of Enchantment these battles are fought in our front lawns.

Jules is the founder of Jules' Poetry Playhouse in the Factory on 5 Art Space where there are poetry movie nights, special guest readings and tributes and other playful, creative writing things happening.

Someone Stole My Obama Sign

Who did this? A tourist?
Left the metal frame, took the plastic sign
from my front yard in Old Town Albuquerque.
Was it an upset Catholic? Days before there were groups
of trampling, flag-carrying anti-abortion demonstrators
in Tiguex Park. Hispanics? Blacks? Whites? Agree to
disagree but don’t take my sign. Put up your own damn sign.
You take, take, take but don’t know how to give. Cuts and cuts
and seize with greed and leave an empty frame.
Vacant, the space is still there.
Another sign will go up.
This time on my balcony, out of reach.
I already voted. No matter what candidate wins, my
sign will be here. The moon still shines full and low
over the mountains. No one can take that away.

Poetry submissions are welcome. Email theditchrider@gmail.com.

3 members like this

Comment by Izquierdo on November 4, 2012 at 8:02am: A sign of the times, Jules, and relevant. Your poem will surely convert more voters than the sign itself.

Comment by Margaret Randall on November 4, 2012 at 8:21am: Great election poem! It's tempting during this electoral season, with so much twisting of words, to just give up and put all language on hold till the damned thing's over with... if it ever is. Poems like this one remind us we can always pull the words back to their true meaning, nourish them and let them nourish us. Thanks, Jules!

Comment by John Roche on November 4, 2012 at 10:03am: NIce one, Jules! Love the closing lines, that point towards the resilience we need.

Comment by Thomas Caruthers on November 4, 2012 at 1:49pm: Round up all the usual Proselytizing 19 year old brain washed "Elder" Magic Mormon suspects!

Comment by Teresa Gallion on November 4, 2012 at 2:59pm: Nice one Jules. Like John, love those closing lines.

Comment by Granjero on November 6, 2012 at 8:24am: Maybe it was an Obama supporter who just didn't want to go all the way down to the office to get their own sign?

Comment by Donald E. George on November 6, 2012 at 12:32pm: In our part of Nebraska, it's hard to find an Obama sign to steal. We are voting for Obama,probaly two of about ten in this town of 1950 who will vote for Obama. Sarah Palin just called to solicit a vote for that tinhorn fourflusher whom I won't name. Sure hope the pollsters have New Mexico right in going for Obama.

Comment by Jules Nyquist on November 6, 2012 at 2:41pm: Thanks everyone for your encouraging words! Vote!

Comment by Aaron Greenwood on November 11, 2012 at 11:00am: Sorry to hear your sign was the latest target of maleficence. I meant to reply last week.

Was it the result of hooligan mischievousness, on the night of a slightly lit moon, -- or -- in this season of the witch, the work of a political saboteur, a someone who didn't like the period at the end of your sentence.
Your not alone. Romney signs were seen burning in Leesburg, VA, in the vicinity of Ball's Bluff. Up Minnesota way, a burned cat was staked near an American Flag and an Obama sign. Outside Wichita Kansas, on the meridian country workers laugh as they mow down political signs, they have no preference.
Was it Thomas Paine that said, "These are the times that try men's souls." Sometimes I think we could be on the verge of another great ... disturbance in the Force, ... while threating words go unheeded on the streets of Paradise, Texas .. and good old fashion chaos drives the winds of change.
Have we learned nothing. We are always looking the other way.

I tend to think most everyone is wrong though most everyone thinks they're right. There are so many lies going around I can't tell what the truth is. I'm with Randall on this one, put all language on hold, maybe try mathematics as parts of speech.