The year that was and will be

The New Year’s rung in, a new council’s at work
The top job’s been handed to Bob
Will they all pull together? Or just make us think
They belong to some unruly mob?

Peter has exited, his time expired
A sigh of relief is his sound
A tune from Gord Lightfoot crosses his lips
It’s good to be Newmarket bound

The size of the council’s the thorn in the rose
It should all have been settled by now
The assembly came up with a number, but, oh,
It wasn’t their job to say how

The Court of Appeal holds the fate of the wind
Its weighty decision reserved
Will the turtle get waxed in the process, or
Will its numbers be somehow preserved?

Our roads are a mess, and my street is the worst
Just pave it—but don’t up my rate
‘Cos the tax that I’m paying’s already too high
So the other guy’s roadwork can wait

Remember the winter that sank us so low?
And the summer that never came through?
I plead with the weather gods—give us a break
A respite is long overdue!

99.3 on the dial opened up
And so did the Devonshire Drake
After all of the wait you’re entitled to blink
Has there been some sort of mistake?

The buzz is all Wellington, Wellington’s cool
Local folks find it hard to believe
Do you sport the look that marks you as hip
Tattoos all the way up your sleeve?

The cost of policing is dropping—a bit
But it’s still way too high for the crime
Let’s trade in our cruisers for bikes and strong boots
To patrol us one foot at a time

A gazebo was built; a fine work of art
Rose like a phoenix from ash
There’s still work to do in the spring so let’s hope
Nobody runs short of cash

QHC still has this deficit thing
No bland words are going to erase
What will be cut out of Picton this time?
I’m already aging in place

Bubblefest had its inaugural run
Some weren’t so sure or so keen
Who knew that circles of soap would attract
Such crowds—and keep Wellington clean?

And once again still standing coy in the wings
A gas station waits to appear
Will its time at last come? Or will we heave a sigh
And say again, maybe next year.

So that’s all she wrote for 2014
2015 is an unwritten book
Find out for yourself what next unfolds, because
This poet is getting the hook

dsimmonds@wellingtontimes.ca