Sometimes glints of sunlight on a clear surface reflect images from
Monuments to two long-ago Presidents at either end of the pool:
The first was elected as our nation formed, the other as
It fractured, prompting battles and skirmishes by soldiers
From opposing sides, sometimes too nearby for comfort.
For those old enough to remember the 1960’s, or those who’ve
Seen the videos and heard the stories, ghosts of the hundreds
Of thousands of marchers persist, their songs about overcoming
Traumas from our checkered past still resounding across the water.
Echoes of a dream not yet fully realized rustle through the trees.
The pool was built during the 1920’s, just after the completion of
The Lincoln Memorial. Perched atop a marshland, it was filled
With over 6 million gallons of water. Over time, it gradually sank into its
Soft underlayment, cracking and eventually leaking so badly that
Half a million gallons of water disappeared each week. In the early 2000’s,
A multi-million dollar project shored it up, reduced leaks, and filtered
Its water, without eliminating algal blooms or the need for regular cleaning.
As we approach a milestone anniversary of our experiments in democracy,
The pool, after a quicker facelift, again suffers from algae and debris.
The trees still rustle, the sunlight still glints. We reflect on what may be needed
To shore up our civic life, to fulfill some of our unrealized collective dreams.
May the wisdom of a Washington or a Lincoln help guide our way forward.
Jinny's Occasional Poems 