My regulars got ballots in the mail
while I awaited mine. It came at last.
I carried it inside (the season’s grail),
and with it an emotion that surpassed
relief: a postcard sent delivered joy –
Arriving with official voting things
were sentences and stickers from a boy
I love – a 3 year-old who always brings
a sense of wonder, humor, logic, glee
to every day – reminding me to look
at living like a glad discovery,
aware I’m paying less than what I took.

Today is hard; the year is difficult.
A toddler teaches hope to this adult.