They say the worst is over—and for that we pray;
Too many of us though, to that we just betray.
You hear:“Nobody’s going to tell me what to do.”
And many more do the same thing, agreeing too.
Three hundred years ago, this attitude gave birth
To much of our expansion west, of measured worth.
The Cumberland Gap, Ohio River, arteries
Enabled western movement with apparent ease.
The reason for this move was mainly urban sprawl;
When neighbors came within a mile they heard the call.
They had no status now in how the city fare;
In any western enclave status levels share.
At least, out there, their vote would mean something at last.
So, ‘doing your own thing’ became endemic, fast!
© Richard Williams