The Ballad of the Ballot

The Ballad of the Ballot When I was just a young tree My mama told me That someday I’d grow big and strong But at my small height I never got enough light So it seems that my mama was wrong Then the ax man came And they hauled me away To the paper mill down the road And some noisy machines Spooled me into reams of Card stock to take down your vote Now I admit I’m a lot With all my measures and props I’m a ballot with lots on my mind I got races for places in courtrooms and stations, the White House and more on the line But my fear, to be frank Is that you’ll just leave me blank I’ll be crumpled and tossed in the bin This is my chance to count So won’t you please fill me out Good luck, and may the candidate who who isn’t clearly an aspiring dictator, who listens to scientists instead of capitalizing on misinformation, who puts the future of our planet before the profits of polluters, and who will uphold the basic tenets of our democracy instead of undermine the election results in a selfish grasp at power — win.