Tuesday, October 12, 2021

Go to the Polls: a Poem by Luis Serrano on Exercising Your Voting Duty

It's likely coincidence but I'd like to think that the universe conspired to bring my attention to this poem - Go to the Polls by Luis Serrano. Just recently, the period for filing of COCs (certificate of candidacy) for the Philippine national and local elections in 2022 has ended. I already have an initial list of candidates to vote for. On a lazy afternoon, I was leafing through an old textbook on Philippine literature when I came across this poem. It's a good poem.

I've never heard of the poet before. Who would've thought that I'll come across a poem about voting at a time when I'm trying to build a list of who I'm voting for in 2022. The universe works in mysterious ways.

Anyway, here's the poem. Enjoy! Maybe create a copy of it then read it again when May rolls in next year.

Go to the Polls
Luis Serrano


Go to the polls today: this is your day,
When you shall make the erring leaders pay,
With mind serene, unprejudiced and true,
Go to the polls, your civic duty do.

Go to the polls and on your ballot write,
With clear and steady hand, in letters bright,
The names of men, whom gold can never buy,
The men who for the right will stand and die.

Go to the polls—the valiant men elect,
The coward and the weak of heart reject,
Put into office men with nerves of steel,
Unselfish men who’ll serve the public weal.

Go to the polls—dethrone the demagogue,
And on your ballot write the epilogue,
To his career of graft, corruption vile,
And put in power honest men the while.

The gambler never is an honest man,
He’ll bet his country when and if he can,
The man immoral choose you never must
He’ll sell his birthright and his sacred trust.

Go to the polls, and at your heart’s behest,
Vote for the men who’ll serve their country best,
Vote for the men whom gold can never buy,
The men who for the right will stand and die.