During that autumn
As the leaves started to
Change color and fall
Creating a carpet of crunches
While the temperature remained summer like
But without the thunder storms to
Roll thru and break the heat
Even if momentarily
While the drought monitors crept higher
And higher, inducing restrictions
On outdoor water use
During that autumn
Which definitely was
Created by the biennial election
There were multiple conversations
And the conversations ruled
Schedules to coordinate
Times to agree upon,
Zoom info shared, then connecting
Sound check,
Background check,
Lighting check,
Find the button and we're on
How to get at the questions
Folks wanted answers to
Without being so direct,
Abrupt, or unfriendly
We created the context,
The setting, neighbors
Meeting neighbors
Some closer than others
Some we'd met before
Some we hadn't yet
Until there, virtually, we were
Together to get their story
Their point of view
Recorded to share
Wind down to a close,
Then editing, Cut this,
Queue this, upload that,
Send this, wait for their response
And when the recording
Was approved, it was
Shared, some more widely than
Others, somehow that is always
The case, some candidates generated
More interest by being new
Less familiar than the
Incumbents whom folks seem
To know enough of
To not need anymore
When the recorded conversations
Came to a close
Other conversations began
Folks following up with candidates
Candidates following up with
Each other, making the meet &
Greet circuit, making the rounds,
To address all the questions,
Provide all the answers
On the website, the pages
Are rich with links
To the conversations,
Video and audio,
Along with historical data,
Info on what was done before
And may need to begin again
To further the conversation
And become closer neighbors
Than we were when
The conversation started
When the biennial election is
Over, the results tallied,
Perhaps they'll be a new set
Of folks at the table
Now with the task of
Providing oversight
To our Town, our services
Which we need, some of which
Some of us
More than others
And so by necessity
This autumn the conversations
Continue, neighbors with neighbors
To find the solutions
That can be possible
Steve Sherlock
Franklin resident
originally shared with the Senior Center Writers Group and posted to
https://www.quietpoet.com/2025/10/reflections-upon-gift-of-conversations.html
https://www.franklinmatters.org/2011/03/introducing-voices-of-franklin.html
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| Voices of Franklin: Reflections upon a gift of conversations received from a friend called necessity* |
