The Rev. Eric Faust, minister of the First Presbyterian Church in downtown Clarksburg, has served up a clever little ditty about the post-election debacle in our country. From the text of his verse, I would guess he has titled it, "The Mighty -- Held at Bay!"
It follows:
The Mighty -- Held at Bay!
The Presses grind to a halt; talking heads drone with empty words -- they cannot halt the moving of "live air time."
The Mighty -- Held at Bay!
Housewives and retired miners and zealous political "would-be's" hunker down at their tables, counting again the ballots, the filled-in ovals, the machine-made tallies.
The Mighty -- Held at Bay!
Waiting the count, readying their legal action teams should the count turn against them. Presses stilled; announcers droning; analysts tongue-tied; and the count goes on: Bush "one" and three pencils make quick, scratchy marks; Gore "one," again three scratchy marks; on into the night -- precinct box after precinct box.
The Mighty -- Held at Bay!
Until the last scratchy mark and the weary chief counter sets in motion the great announcement.
The Mighty will always be Held at Bay, knowing now that words and accusations and finger-pointing and arrogant posturing last only until the next counting of the pencil marks; until the next move forward of something greater than themselves, the pencil mark of one voter and one voter and one voter.
Thanks so much, Rev. Faust.
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Shortline Elementary School and People's Bancorp of New Martinsville will be presenting nationally-recognized artist Stephen T. Vadakin's Marine Life Wood Carvings, part of the Great American Dolphin & Whale Tour, during two evening performances tonight in the gymnasium of Shortline Elementary School in Pine Grove, Wetzel County.
Shows will begin at 5:45 and 6:45 p.m. They are open to the public. Vadakin does wood carvings of different species of whales carved from exotic woods from all over the world. He'll key on the education of the Art of Sculptor and the Science of Marine Life. Many carvings will be on display.
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If I might be so bold as to suggest it, if anyone is looking for a Christmas gift for a relative or friend who once lived in Harrison County but has since moved away, I have an idea.
The book I compiled this year of photos from the past, "Images of America -- Harrison County," would bring back some memories for them. For just $18.99 plus tax, the 128-page book includes about 200 pictures of Harrison County of yesteryear.
It can be found at select locations in the county or can be ordered from Arcadia Publishing, whose toll-free number is 1-888-313-2665. My thanks for considering the suggestion.
Another Bob'n'Along column Friday.
