Whittier's Election Day Poem

Writing Prompt: My two cents.

Today's prompt immediately brought the recent election to mind. I gave "my two cents" when I voted. And my vote was equivalent to that of the wealthiest person.

When I was in the eighth grade we all had to select a poem to memorize and recite to the class. I came across John Greenleaf Whittier's "The Poor Voter on Election Day" and decided to learn it.

I remember the poem to this day... well, not to recite, but the message.  It's a good one.

Here it is....


The Poor Voter on Election Day
John Greenleaf Whittier (1852)

The proudest now is but my peer, The highest not more high; To-day, of all the weary year, A king of men am I. To-day alike are great and small, The nameless and the known My palace is the people’s hall, The ballot-box my throne! Who serves to-day upon the list Beside the served shall stand; Alike the brown and wrinkled fist, The gloved and dainty hand! The rich is level with the poor, The weak is strong to-day; And sleekest broadcloth counts no more Than homespun frock of gray. To-day let pomp and vain pretence My stubborn right abide; I set a plain man’s common sense Against the pedant’s pride. To-day shall simple manhood try The strength of gold and land The wide world has not wealth to buy The power in my right hand! While there’s a grief to seek redress, Or balance to adjust, Where weighs our living manhood less Than Mammon’s vilest dust, — While there’s a right to need my vote A wrong to sweep away, Up! clouted knee and ragged coat! A man’s a man to-day!