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A poem for the 2010 Kentucky Legislative Session

WKMS | By Matt Markgraf

Published April 28, 2010 at 3:51 PM CDT

By Constance Alexander

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/wkms/local-wkms-898837.mp3

Murray, KY – The Kentucky General Assembly wrapped up its 2010 legislative session recently, but failed to accomplish its primary goal of crafting a state budget. Commentator and Poetry Minute producer Constance Alexander reflects on the state of Kentucky through a poem of her own.

Legislative Session, 2010 (with apologies to Ernest Lawrence Thayer and in Honor of April, National Poetry Month)

The outlook isn't brilliant for the Bluegrass State today.
Tomorrow's not much better and the landscape's gloomy gray.
No budget passed in Frankfort after sixty days in session.
The void in leadership is vast enough to cause depression.

The back and forth tween House and Senate cost the people millions.
Not much got done. Who can we thank? Perhaps it's David Williams.
The Senate prez can kill a bill with process mumbo jumbo
And worse than that, he's aided by slick-talking Mr. Stumbo.

They come from different parties but it doesn't seem to matter.
They equally contribute to the gridlock and the natter
That says one thing and does another. "Not our fault," they claim.
"The governor's the one who's out of touch. Beshear's to blame."

Slots at Churchill Downs were nixed but sexting's still okay.
The legislative logic makes no sense, it's d class .
Inaction causes deficits; it's costing us a bundle
To fund a special session for the budget. Who wouldn't grumble?

We face the risk of spending cuts to arts and education,
Not to mention Medicaid and unemployment compensation.
Williams sees each option as a tax-hike in disguise,
So he scoffs and fumes at every choice and casts an evil eye.

Kentucky cannot move ahead by mortgaging tomorrow,
Yet sleight of hand in budgets past have led to current sorrows.
We know it isn't easy but it really is inane
Not funding laws enacted to secure much-needed change.

Someday in the Bluegrass State, the landscape could look bright,
If legislators knuckled down and got their work done right.
It's not an imposition to expect they'd heed the call
Of the motto of Kentucky: Work together or we fall!

Constance Alexander is Faculty Scholar/Arts & Humanities at Murray State University's Teacher Quality Institute. Her books are available at the Murray State University Bookstore or through Amazon.com.