I grew up in the country Learning to bail hay and plow. And grow the food we ate By the sweat of our brow.

I was taught honesty and prayer, And turning the other cheek. And rather than search for riches, Forgiveness is what we seek.

I didn’t grow up glamorous On that old country farm. But, dreaming of those city lights Seemed to do no harm.

With each passing summer day, Picking purple peas for hours, My attitude toward the country Slowly started turning sour.

I longed for the bright lights And the fun the city brought. Why grow your own food When it can easily be bought?

So, the first chance I got I moved out to the Big D. Got a job in a high rise And started a family.

I had babies and made a life Different from the one I knew. I had traded in the gardening For a city’s hazy hue.

Time has a sneaky way Of turning minutes into years. And turn something that you want Into something that you fear.

Now airplanes spray poisons In the air we have to breathe. We can’t drink the water And the world is full of greed.

We might not make it out Of this mess on Mother Earth. People just don’t understand Ramifications and her worth.

Now there’s protesting and clammering When people say, “Land of the Free”, And civil unrest. I think, “Surely you jest!”

Everyone is prepping Wondering how do we survive? The end times are nearing Or maybe it’s arrived.

Stores won’t have food soon, The lights may go down. What will people do When no water is around?

All those years I wondered Why was I born on that hill? Thought I’d never want to pick up Another fishing rod and reel.

As much as I hated that garden And snapping peas til dark. I’d trade it in a second For this trashed out city park.

I’m running for the country As fast as I can go. And hope I can remember What I didn’t want to know.

Hunting and gardening Will likely save mankind. And picking beans and okra- Suddenly, I don’t mind.

For this tiny cabin Down this long country road, Is the most beautiful sight By this garden that we’ve sowed.