Mr. Town-Hall — Tuesday at 7 PM

Lyrics

[Intro]
Tuesday. Seven PM.
The lights are too bright in here.

[Verse 1]
Second Tuesday of the month. Every month.
Same parking spot by the dumpsters.
Same squeak from the gymnasium door.
The council members look tired already.
The town clerk clicks her pen.
I find my chair. Third row, left side.
A little wobble in the front right leg. Same as last time.

[Chorus]
This is where the work gets done.
Not on a screen, not in a headline.
Here. Under the buzz of the lights.
With the faint smell of floor wax and old sweat.
We're talking about Zoning Amendment 4-B.
Democracy in the gymnasium light.

[Verse 2]
The microphone gives a little shriek.
Someone clears their throat. The sound bounces off the bleachers.
I've read the packet. All forty-two pages.
Setbacks and easements and watershed considerations.
Most of the town is watching TV.
Eating dinner. Putting the kids to bed.
They don't know about the proposed height variance on Elm Street.
But somebody has to.

[Chorus]
This is where the work gets done.
Not on a screen, not in a headline.
Here. Under the buzz of the lights.
With the faint smell of floor wax and old sweat.
We're talking about Zoning Amendment 4-B.
Democracy in the gymnasium light.

[Bridge]
There are maybe nine of us here who aren't paid to be.
We nod at each other. The regulars.
No one's looking for a parade.
No one's looking for a thank you.
Just making sure the foundation holds.
That the lines on the map mean something.
It's not glory. It's just... showing up.

[Outro]
The vote is called. Ayes have it.
The metal legs of the chairs scrape the floor.
Handshakes are brief.
I walk out into the dark.
The town is quiet.
The town is sleeping.
And the work is done. For tonight.