Prop 50

photo by R.Marotta

All these years later,

I still remember learning 

the bolded word 

on the bottom right side 

of my Adventures 

in American History book.

Gerrymandering— 

such a pretty word, the name 

for a medieval dance,

or a walk through the forest

flowers in my hair,

petals in a basket tossed on a path— 

a meandering path.

I still remember turning the page 

and discovering the word’s

true definition:

an intentional distortion of boundaries

to strip rights and make powerless

the voice of the people—

I remember how the truth stopped short

my dance, sent the petals

of my daydream scattering 

in the wind— my childlike belief

in liberty and justice for all

sent scattering in the wind.

Today, I celebrate PROP 50 with flowers 

in my hair and fresh petals in my basket,

PROP 50— a new division made 

by the people and for the people

in faith, friendship and hope 

of one day, true liberty and justice for all.