“A garden and a library!” That’s all we really need.
The Roman statesman’s words ring true for most of us indeed
But think back to the times of youth when slowly trudged the day
And minutes seemed like hours and days when she was far away.
A garden was scant solace then and books unread then lay.

Or when the noble cause took every unforgiving minute
Travail must change the world at last and all the evil in it
But when the world had wagged a bit and years slipped by too soon
Seeds and soil took over from the protest marcher’s tune
And books fadged better with the lean and slippered pantaloon.

— K. Titchenell