Two Lives

You take the crowded city streets,

     With life and shops galore,

I’ll take the little woodland paths

     Down by the river shore.

You take the public gardens where

     All is arranged by plan;

I’ll take the scenes laid out by God,

     And undisturbed by man.

You take the fountains on the lawn,

     And listen to its tale;

I’ll listen to the little brook

     That murmurs thro’ the vale.

You live the artificial life,

     And I will live the real;

And joy will come to me in mine

     That yours can ne’er reveal.

Feb. 15, ‘99

Pub. in National Mag., May, ‘99