Clean Water Action activist braving -10F windchill to spread the word about toxic chemicals in children’s products.
Last night, as the winter darkness froze into place and an arctic wind chilled the air to -10F, I settled down in front of the TV to watch the PBS News Hour.
Then …
Once upon a winter night dreary, while I pondered weak and weary,
Over many a quaint and curious story of national impor’,
suddenly there came a tapping,
As of some one gently rapping, rapping at my chamber door.
`’Tis some visitor,’ I muttered, `tapping at my chamber door –
Only this, and nothing more.’
Who could be out on this bleak December eve?
I stood repeating
`’Tis some visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door –
Some late visitor entreating entrance at my chamber door; –
This it is, and nothing more,’
Presently my soul grew stronger; hesitating then no longer,
`Sir,’ said I, `or Madam, truly your forgiveness I implore;
But the fact is I was napping, and so gently you came rapping,
And so faintly you came tapping, tapping at my chamber door,
That I scarce was sure I heard you’ – here I opened wide the door; –
I peered into the darkness expecting – my lost Lenore.
Instead, an Angle – in her Minnesota splendor – stood smiling at my door.
“Tell me Winter Spirit”, said I, “how may I help you with your chore?”
“I come asking for money,” the vision said, “to help protect children and much more.”
She enthralled me with her stories of Clean Water Action,
And as she talked my giving heart gathered traction.
I scribbled my a donation – fearful that in my distraction
that I might not look again on the angelic face framed by bears ears and trade jacket.
The apparition smiled serenely as I asked if I might try to capture her allure.
Then she was gone back into December’s night,
And I – returning to the TV racket – was warmed by the Angel’s altruism, simple and pure.
My apologies to Edgar Allen Poe, The Raven, all the poets of the world, and the young woman activist who braved an arctic night.
Clean Water Action is involved in a variety of campaigns including: removing toxic chemicals from of children’s products, water purity (as the name states), fracking, removing 100 hazardous chemicals from common adult products, power plant pollution, climate change, and much more.
For more information concerning activities in your state go to Clean Water Action.