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Thirty-Nine Men
by
R.L. Walker
A Poem against Voter
Apathy
This is a story … of men … Seventy-four … in all,
And how they responded … to an “Urgent Call.”
A tale of what happened … at that Fateful event,
It’s Glorious outcome … and what it all meant.
Inflation run rampant … rebellious attacks,
Resources dwindling … the Treasury had “cracks.”
A Nation near Death … (so very close to “The End.”)
When a “Call” went out … to Seventy-four men.
“Come help, it is Vital! … (R.S.V.P.)
Saddle your horses … walk if need be!
Our Nation … “She wavers … in dire straits!”
(In part … that message did state.)
Of the Seventy-four “Petitioned,” Fifty-five … arrived!
And …from May, to September … the Nation survived.
Only Fifty-five men? … Of Seventy-four?
What percentage, this? … (74!)
(No less … and no more.)
Through long, heated, discussions … many tempers flared,
Sixteen “walked,” or wouldn’t Vote … (no longer cared?)
Academic, this question … for it mattered not,
“Thirty-nine” stayed on … (“They” cared a lot!)
(Plus … The Invisible … “One” )
“Thirty-nine?” … Of Fifty-five? … (Plus … The Invisible … “One”)
What percentage that? … 71!
And so, of Seventy-four called … “Thirty-nine” … it would be,
What percentage now? …A mere … 53!
With deepest convictions … some refused … would not sign,
Without a “Bill … of Rights” … (yours … and mine!)
In demanding that Amendment … be attached thereunto,
Those “Rights” have been passed on down … (to me … and to YOU!)
September 17, 1787… (The Archives tell us … “when,”)
The “Thirty-nine” each cast their Votes … with a feather pen.
And when the voting was over … even before the ink had dried,
The Nation … had steadied “Herself” … with Dignity, and Pride.
The greatest System … in the history … of Mankind,
Brought tears … to the eyes … of all Thirty-nine.”
(Plus … The Invisible … “One”)
Today … Our Nation … “She wavers, again?” (Can’t you see?)
Petition to all! … “Come help! It is Vital!” (R.S.V.P.)
Drive … take a bus … walk … (if need be!)
How many will answer the “Call” … this time? … (Well …we shall see!)
If you don’t understand … the importance of YOUR Vote,
Reread this again … taking careful note,
Of how that “poor turnout” to Vote,”
Nearly cost us our Nation, at that moment in time,
Were it not … for the “committed, caring,” … “Thirty-nine!”
(Plus … The Invisible … “One”)
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