‘Twas the night before new council, and all through Aurora,
All the creatures were buzzing, awaiting the aura.
The documents were laid in the chamber with care,
In hopes that the new council would soon clear the air.
The townsfolk were nestled all snug in their beds,
While visions of good government danced in their heads.
At home in his pyjamas, slippers, and cap,
Geoff sat by the fire, to let the day unwrap.
When up on his laptop, there arose such a clatter,
He rushed to the screen to tend to the matter.
To his amazement he read, as he logged on the net,
Some folks still cried foul, like they’d lost some great bet.
The Mayor-Elect wondered, as he gazed at the screen,
What it would take, to pronounce this town clean.
Then a noise from the yard shook these thoughts from his head,
“What’s going on now, I should be halfway to bed!”
When what did he see as he drew back the shades,
But a gold Chain of Office, and eight shiny aides.
Shouting “Ready for work”, as the reason they came,
Geoff knew them all right, each councillor by name;
“Now Abel, now Thompson, now Buck, and Humfryes,
On Gallo, on Gaertner, on Ballard, and Pirri!
Let’s deliver on our promise, for one and for all,
Now dash away, dash away, to Aurora Town Hall!”
With a stroke of a pen, and the oath that each swore,
The new council was ready to rise to the fore.
Staff were all focused, and went straight to work,
Respect and goodwill now meant more than a perk.
Geoff looked up from his chair, and said to his team;
“The people have spoken; they’ve all shared their dream.”
As the Mayor-to-Be gathered his team at the door,
Each knew the task ahead as a rewarding, but tough chore.
As Geoff wished them all well, and as a leader just might,
Shouted, “Good government to all, and to all a good night!”
— Matt Maddocks (with apologies to Clement Clarke Moore)
Aurora Citizen 