So this is the last one.
This is called "Governance."
And this touches a little bit on what
I said about moving from agricultural lineage
to an industrial lineage, governance.
Well, actually, industrial is now
an academic, which is kind of industrial too.
[LAUGHTER]
"Governance."
Nowhere in your Constitution is there
a pilgrimage through snow.
No thoughts of icy travels across the Delaware.
Little desire to cover your wagon or dried,
sharpened logs into frozen dirt.
Instead, you have inherited the deep sleep
of field hands of those who live by the sun
and want no more yardage of it beyond the late morning hours.
In this afternoon's humid embrace,
there is a slow surrender to the organ's demands of pull
that is as convincing as any promise of land
but less demanding in terms of cargo.
Think back longingly to your ancestors,
even the ones smart enough to leave the donkeys behind.
They wanted this for you.
If they were stacking things or sweeping out the cold cellar,
if their arms went numb at the lever
or scraping buttercream off cheap China,
they wanted you to put your head down on the desk
and let the turkey sandwich fuel a low-grade plotless dream.
The piles of papers become as indistinguishable
as tall river grass, as thread pulled into the dull continuity
of mill life.
Each book, each manuscript, each ungraded paper conspires
to form a canopy over your head to cast shudders
against your cheek.
But you push forward and keep your office door open.
Someone looks in and addresses you by this or that title,
reminding you of a governance for which you've long
campaigned.
Your people, long asleep, finally
agree to speak to the press.
We always knew she'd be a candidate for change.
They begin making t-shirts and buttons.
Thank you.
[APPLAUSE]