Far From Eden

I rise in the morning before it is fully light.

Election day!  My first visit to the polls.

I dress with special care, new jeans, clean shirt,

my treasured handmade vest,

a gift, special for this bright morning.

A murmured morning prayer, hurried, done.

I kiss my kid sister’s sleeping head,

And step out into the early morning light.

Birdsong fills the air as the world begins its day.

Trees stir in the small breeze, branches nearly bare.

Fallen leaves whisper along the sidewalk,

orange and red sentinels keeping time with my feet.

Winter soon, they say, soon.

Excited, nervous, I finger my beautiful vest, my lucky vest.

It is time, time to be an adult, a citizen,

time to make my voice heard, for myself and

for my faith, a tiny sect but mighty.

The polling station is filled with people. 

I think, God is good.

I sign my name, I wait for my turn.

My forehead beads with sweat,

heart pounding with anticipation.

I wipe my face with my hand,

Hoping that no one will notice.

No one sees.

I am invisible, just another girl waiting in line.

For my brothers, who think that girls do not matter;

For my father, who picked out my husband on the day I was born;

For my mother, who would not let me study the holy books with my brothers;

For the elders, who teach that women belong at home;

I will show them all.

I will raise myself up from second-class citizen to hero.

Now, I think, now:  be the woman you say you are.

I reach beneath my jacket, find the lucky vest, grasp the cord and

Pull.