They Need Me

The sun gets up slow, gives me time
to heat the tea water, sink in the rocker
and watch the feeding flock find
the Premium Northwest Mix on the deck.

The flock ignores the train going through town,
the air horn marks the crossings,
two longs, a short and a long.
In the mail, between a pre-approved

and a bill, is an opportunity
to face the challenges to come
in an election about seven states over.
I'm not allowed to influence the election

with my vote but I can send
twenty-five dollars, fifty dollars,
or whatever I can afford to inform
and inspire. It's like buying

a Packers jersey for watching the TV,
even if I care how the game ends
they don't want me on the team,
but they'll take my money.