Welcome - Bret Norwood

I am undefeatably skeptical of politics, but after watching President Elect Barack Obama's speech last night, after seeing the people cry, after seeing young African Americans dancing, after seeing so many people taken by a spirit of hope, something instictual moved in me as well. I composed this in a rough attempt toward capturing that moment in a few brief words.

Welcome

I believe history is a story
and we’ve turned a page tonight.
We’ve summoned a new spirit -
a new respect, even self-respect,
a face, a name that changes everything,
no matter what happens next.

Newborn stars snow from Heaven
and are melting at our feet.
The world is renewed in fire
and the fanfare of the band.

Thank you for letting me suspend
my disbelief, if only momentarily,
in order to believe in superstitions
two hundred and thirty-two years old.
Don’t deceive me, as one has done before;
no need to speak of values and destiny:
just tell a story well.

-BTN Nov. 4, 2008