Election Section

So I go 

On my bamboo pole 

Over to the Kaiser doctor 

On Howe Street 

To renew my handicap sticker. 

“No way lady 

You can walk: 

But you can’t talk 

A good enough line” 

This new doc says, 

O lawyers, come to my rescue 

Come John Edwards, 

Come speak for me here in Oakland. 

I stick on—on my bamboo pole 

Over to Piedmont Ave. 

And reward my bitters 

With some fine Quan Yin tea 

At L’AMYX—the monkey tea bar, 

A flashback to the Wednesday 

After Kerry went down that Tuesday 

Comes with a hot golden sip: 

My Sufi water aerobics teacher, 

In his dark red turban and wild music 

Stayed under a wide beach umbrella, 

While the rain rained down on all of us 

Sad swimmers dancing beneath him 

In the chlorine waters. 

The sky over the pool an abstract of dark grays 

One streak of bright blue 

By a corner roof. 

Some speak of a move to Canada, 

To Prince Edward’s Island 

Where ocean tides are warm; 

Some of Costa Rica. 

The flashback ends. 

So does the tea. 

I stick on home 

On my bamboo pole 

And think about China 

And swimming in the China Sea. 

—Nance Wogan