What I’m about to say, perhaps you’ll think it strange,
But there’s a lot to think about “Home on the Range.”
This isn’t anything about where “deer and antelope play,”
Except the life you had to lead in every way.
For you had animals for which you had to care;
And you had daily chores with which you had to share.
It is the animals you had to care for here;
A ritual which had to be maintained throughout the year.
Now look and pay attention! Values here are rife;
When you’re responsible for yet another life,
In some ways quite old fashioned, in other ways advanced,
The values you give life itself are thus enhanced.
With children, you will cite them, giving you no choice;
But that’s my point, for with them they at least have voice.
And that becomes involuntary at the start;
That’s not the same with animals,, at least in part.
Oh, yes, there are those parallels the cities give;
But not the same to the above on how to live.
The sad part is, in judging this, few people see
Civilization spells the death of humanity!
© Richard Williams