On Simple Living

We like to imagine our ancestors as simple

Heathens, living their lives without much thought or care

Year by year, taking each day as it came

After we're gone, will our grandchildren think the same of us?

My ancestors lived off the land

Idyllic, raised their meat, grew their grain

Did they, too, wish to do as their own ancestors did?

Every innovation, every step forward

Another step from simplicity

Does the shepherd dream of the nomad?

In the aftermath of our lives, they may dream of us

Not dependent on their new, modern technologies

Simply living, they will say

In time, maybe it will be true.

Does this reveal some greater meaning?

Everybody else seems to think so.