Wednesday night OpenCdA attended a meeting of about 50 community members to discuss the recall effort under way in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho.   At the close of the meeting, a man with a soft, peaceful voice asked if he could read a poem he had composed.

I wish everyone in Coeur d’Alene could have heard his poem as he presented it.  There was sadness, strength, and resolve in his voice that the words alone on paper can not properly convey.  Still, I asked him for permission to reprint his poem, and he graciously granted it.

Here is “SO YOU’LL RECALL,” written respectfully by Tom Kane, Coeur d’Alene since 1945.

SO YOU’LL RECALL

Why?

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Why are issues in our “Eden” flaming such distress?

Is it in part ‘cause City leaders,

Could not bring themselves to “yes”

Responding to an earnest, advisory vote request?

Do you recall?

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Why did our queries, they so much distrust?

In probing deeper depths, we could not help, but come to understand

They simply did not want us –

“Messing” with THEIR almost solely “hand picked” plan.

Do you recall?

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Remarking, that after all, “the public were not park planners!”

“Touché” we said, “but we are pretty fair as careful scanners –

Not too terribly bad, as average under-standers;

And some of what we saw, $$$$$$ stuck hard in our craw.”

Do you recall?

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To wait until the 2013 election, we reasoned, would be too late.

The “money horse” was breaking from the gate.

His trainers with all dispatch, move him along the designated track.

To the “Winner’s Money Circle,” where the color of green UR drained tax money!

Makes everything beautiful, even black!

Now we RECALL

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What else were we to do?

Just go away with a whimper and a cry?

Like “big boys” just wipe our eyes dry?

Is that what these good folks would have us do?

Stab the hearts still pulsing”  To thy own self be true.”

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No, No, ……this we could not do!

But what was left, what avenue,?

To fight the might and slight of City Hall

And that giant, rolling, tax gathering UR money ball?

Only recall?

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Say it’s not true!  They left but one timely choice

To stay the course

Of that un-harnessed tax snorting money source (UR)?

If so –

We must recall!

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Coeur d’Alene Citizens:

We did not set out to recall!

No vote,

No Public voice,

Damn it, No choice!

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That answers the “why?”

That’s been our sway,

Part of it anyway,

Enough to make this old man cry!