Life was simple way back then

The longboats lifted from the floor
Heave too men the first mate roared

We had no time to sink or swim
We hit the bottom up to our chin

We bobbed and rode the waves to shore
Not all we dragged could be restored

We laid exhausted on the sand
The cold Atlantic claimed no man

We raised-up all and gave HIM praise
Then looked before us through the haze

A sheltered cove we were amazed
With granite walls that left us dazed

A sigh of wonder and of awe
How would we all survive ‘till fall?

Here we were in Acadie
It’s sixteen-four and we are free

We set about our simple plan
An agile man who feared no man

Women most robust indeed
But eyes were blinded by our needs

Courtships lasted just that day
By evening none could stand the pain

Morning found us on our knees
Reciting vows our God was pleased

Married by the man of God
We planted seeds with new found speed

We raised our crops and worked our land
And made the home our palace grand

Families grew and multiplied
And spread their seeds and fortified

And built for them a unit strong
Filled with love, much peace and song

The church had taken each high place
And held our records in that place

Our births and deaths and unions too
When marriage was the thing to do

Life was simple way back then

We were convinced by men in black
And hooded angles wit the knack

As long as we gave God his place
In every home He’d give HIS grace

All of us the big the small
Pushed and pulled we did it all

Our tables were the center of
A universe filled with love

We learned to count and do our math
And spell our words and make mom laugh

Mother showed us we were loved
She was the one we called our dove

Father taught us right from wrong
To keep our word meant we were strong

Greed did not exist back then
Instead we learned to love our friends

If a family down the road
Struggled with their daily load

We put our shoulders to their wheel
And moved their wagon no big deal

Life was simple way back then

This tale I tell you is the truth
I stand here tall as living proof Must reach the top and drop the rope
To those below then up the slope

The roar behind us added speed
We prayed we would be spared indeed

We survived the mighty climb
Then stood upon the cliffs so fine

And pondered life no looking back
This was to be our paradise

Life was simple way back then

We fished the sea and tilled the land
We stayed the course a disciplined plan

Two years passed we lacked for not
Except a damsel’s silk like frock

Strong men filled our daily pot
By night we were a restless lot

Spring had come, a schooner docked
We stood there praising the pretty flock

God had ears HE heard our prayers
And guided neat men to the stairs

Our evenings were such simple fests
We welcomed friends and sometimes guests

We listened to each point of view
And learned so much from elders too

About each stage that life would bring
And how we should prepare for stings

We had respect for those whose years
Had taught them how to deal with fears

We needed not an altered state
To find ourselves or please our mate

We made a plan for life anew
And stayed with it and saw it through

We stood by God and read HIS word
The Ten Commandments taught and heard

Life was simple way back then

We honoured men and women too
And blessed their unions for we knew

It takes a man and woman too
As equal partners to make anew

Our folks took charge the village new
That dad and mom knew what to do

We did not need the village too
Our parents then we had two

Our school was home and chapel when
We bowed in prayer and then took pen

We loved our friends and judged them not
T’was in HIS image we grew a lot

We romped and played in air so pure
That drinking dew was sure to cure

Sunday was our day to rest
We’d kneel and pray and say we’re blessed

We were a stronger people then
Who earned respect

How ever did we make it through?
No drugs, no thugs, no witches brew

Just getting high on life back then
And so I ask you once again

"How have we gone so wrong, my friends?"

Life was simple way back then

What ever happened, when did it end?

Men like me, wrinkled and free

See life through the eye of the fly rod.

We cast a few, then spit and chew,

And cuss the one we blew.

We tire fast with each missed cast

Then seek the dryer ground.

We seek a path to park our ass

And share the gaffes that make us laugh

Alone no more, each takes the floor

The tales do make us roar

We liars all, don’t keep a score

And simply call for more.

Our noses grow, our stories too

Our life now laughs galore.

But there we sit and sip our brew

For that’s what lying fishermen do.

We take a breath and tie a fly

And grab the rod once more

Before we go we spit and chew

Then off we go for more.

Our boots now dry we’re set to try

Another cast or two

We pinch a plug and tuck it snug

The juice will work for sure

Then off we go to spit and chew

And cuss the one we blew.

It matters not if what we caught

Is nothing but a dream.

It’s friends we have beside us now

Not salmon by the score

We’ve found the love within our life

That lifts our heads once more

And there again as worthy men,

We cast our fly up stream

We reached our dream in mid-stream

Young men we are once more.

Gannet, oh gannet
What have you become?

Your neck is broken
Your diving is done.

You lay on the sand
Out in the sun

Once crystal clear eyes
Now only a glaze.

Oh, mighty bird
So free and so strong

You’ve wandered so far
Wandered so long

Being the compass
On our seas

The brightest star
For all to see.

Death is approaching
It’s coming in waves.

It’s coming will end
What’s left of your days.

The sun bleached sand
Is now your bed.

I’m here for you
I’ll lay your head

Upon my lap
Until you’re dead.

The tide’s come in
Now you are gone
And life without you
Will continue on.

A bearded man in denim garb stands upon his throne

His flock of eight stand and wait, for him to sing his song.

“Team!” He chants into the wind, “Let’s bust some sod today!”

The mammoth beasts dig in their feet and strain against the weight.

Their golden manes and sculptured frames strain into the rain

They dance in step the traces stretch they plow off through the plain.

The preacher man then rests his flock six furlongs up the row

He stoops to pray upon the way the earth will shortly grow.

With head still bowed he speaks aloud, “The ground is wet today.”

His eyes then rise toward the skies he asks the Son to pray,

For warmer days, much drier days before the seeds he’ll lay

And soon a gentle southern breeze will warm, and dry by May.

“Team! He chants once again, “Move ‘em out, and bust some sod today!”

The mammoths raise their muscled necks and waltz on to and fro.

The bearded man all denim clad his sharp eyes watch below,

As yards and yards of rich black sod turn over row by row

He lifts his eyes up to the skies and thanks the God he knows

No matter what today will bring, not rain, nor wind, or snow

Can take away the joy he has for all he’ll ever know

An Amish life, a simple life, a peace they love to show.

I sat alone in the warm morning sun,
And wondered aloud, "My God, what have we done?"
Where have they gone, the trees that I love?
They were here yesterday, but now there are none,
The Pine and the Spruce, the Maple and Oak,
The Walnut and rich land that held their deep root.

Dazed, I gazed at this wasteland of brush
And wept for the amputees dismembered, for what?
Some dead, others dying, some face down,
Their backs to the sun seeping into the ground.
Good soldiers once, straight, strong and true,

Sacrificed now for the gain of a few.

The boughs of trees, their arms outstretched,
Now corpses of clear-cuts, lest we forget.
No crosses, no green grass, no flowers in bloom,
Only death and destruction, the sweet smell of doom.
My lover the wind then whispered to me,
There are more dead and dying on down to the sea.

The big Cats came and did their deed,
They clawed and scratched and slashed her clean.
Mother Earth now stands defiled, ashamed, ruined, the Virgin’s Child.
God help me handle Her distress, where do I turn, whom can I call,
This mess, my friends, concerns us all.
To turn our backs, to turn away, we seal our fate and die today.

Her wounds keep filling day-by-day with ooze and goo that won’t go away.
West Nile, the curse, is growing here, fed by stagnant pools that cheer,
Evolving death brought this day on wings that sting and bite and prey.
And feasting maggots gather round, enjoying carrion newly found,
Beneath the ghosts fallen here, tall timbers once who had no fear,
For life was given from above when man and beast respected love.

Does anybody give a damn about tomorrow’s breaching dam?
The Cats are gone, they are not here, but so are creatures once revered.
Can we count on their return? God only knows what date and plan.
But this we know, for it is true, pesticides are killers too,
And pesticides we find them here, causing death to friends so dear.
How can humans now undo the shameful acts of the few?
We bow and cower to the power of the lobby and their might,
Will we stand like pillars all, or meekly crawl from fear and fright?
We call upon our leaders too, as public servants they work for you,
But greedy men now do the deeds, and will destroy our future seeds.
To be the Phoenix of fallen trees, we need God’s love so we can see,
A vision firm, a path sincere to right the wrongs abounding here.

As I sat in deep despair and wept for those abandoned here,
A mighty moose, now in rut, stumbled through this abject muck,
I watched him muse; he seemed confused, his homestead now removed!
His mighty head he would raise and cast an unbelieving gaze,
The bogs were gone, the willows too, and no sweet grass for him to woo
His young lass and others too, who’d give his life a chance brand new.

The massive creature tarried here, exchanged a glance and then a glare,
Who are you? Why are you here? Can’t you stop this madness clear?
I was ashamed, embarrassed too, and closed my eyes in hopes he knew,
My hands are tied, my tongue is too, I tried to tell him, but he knew,
I am a coward this is true, I am afraid to stand for you,
While men of power and of might, gleefully watch our tails in flight.

A tear welled in this David’s eye, and I too began to cry,
I cannot sit upon my throne, this stump that once was a home
To creatures both big and small and none of whom deserved to fall,
Victim to those who knew the deadly crime they were to do.
With Stihl and Velmont both brand new, they cut and sheared and stuck it to
This land of plenty we all knew that sang to us the whole day through.

It’s time we stopped this clear-cut wrong and seeded her with vibrant song.
Why not begin the sweet refrain by blocking roads to further gain.
Then let us take a tree or two and plant in rows a forest new,
And then in time we will hear the songs of birds caress our ears.
How can these men of greed defame our efforts to reverse their shame
For the dirty deeds they’ve done to feed the greed of fathers’ sons?

When man has set his corporate tact, there is no way to turn him back.
“I am the god of men today, so nature lovers you will pay,
From this land to corporate store, for Judas did his earthly chore.
I as god you may be sure, that man and beast forevermore,
Will abide by what I say, like politicians in my pay.
I trust you know, of this I’m sure, no hope but hell lies at your door.

And if you push and shove too far, you’ll end up like a child of rape.
I care not for the pleas of men, I pity lambs like you, my friend.
This earth is mine, it’s mine I say! I set the rules by which you play.
I never lose, the gold is great, the golden rules are those I make!
Count on me to rape this land and leave her barren like dessert sand,
Where winds will blow across the plain, cold and cutting, causing pain.”
I wakened from this dreadful dream, the sounds of terror, a shriek, a scream,
From miles away could it be another chainsaw ripping free through

A woodlot destined to go down to ground and die there too?
Another bomb, another day, the bastards hear no word I say.
Shame on them, shame on me, I’m sorry, Moose, for losing sight
Of your needs and of your plight, but count on me to stand and fight.

I will, I promise, rise above my selfish need to waste my love,
In sheltered tombs above the ground, where apathy and greed abound.
I understand I cannot flee from powers that would threaten me,
With time away and in a cell, they’d keep me in that man made hell.
But I will speak and make it clear they bring you death of which to fear,
A death to organs that you need, it’s not your fault, it is their greed.

They spray their crops with killer dew that leaves some dead, some dying too.
No chance have you to understand, don’t eat the food in this tall stand.
Pesticides we must beware are sprayed about without much care,
For human life or creatures too, and both of us are destined to
Succumb to toxins if we knew upon which plants we’d find this dew.
So man must stand in your stead, and stop the killing before you’re dead.

The day will come, we all agree, when seedling growth will be set free
To cover up and hide away the scars and remnants here today.
And who will know what we saw upon this battle field so raw?
Can we count on life brand new, free from those who said they knew?
Or will the future hold in store a fate as shameful as before?
Or must we make our stand today to prevent more rotting clay?

Mr. Moose, you know the drill to fight the fight, impose your will.
Thank you friend for your might to right the wrong, to meet the plight,
That reckless men have dumped upon you, the land and other pawns.
If only humans knew the truth, and took the time to stand with you,
And learn about your way of life, out here beyond their daily strife,
The two of us could guarantee, no more clear-cuts would there be.

Listen, Moose, it’s very clear, our word has spread so let us cheer,
That all mankind responds with fear to the mess created here.
Moose, it’s time to up the stakes and call upon the human race,
“Take a stand!” it’s very clear, we must defend our children dear,
All God’s children conceived in love, yours and mine, from above.
It’s time to be clear-cut too, rigid pillars reborn, renewed.

We men of might have arrived to end their plight, we’ll stand and fight.
We sing our song for creatures here, a haven for them free from fear.
Where man and beast are free at last to share the love in nature’s grasp.
Where what we hear is on the wing, brought to us by winds that sing.
Through the leaves, free from sin and stands of giants, limb to limb.
We pray to you this simple prayer, “Can you leave our Virgin fair, undefiled like Her Child?
And leave us here in His domain, where He will reign and end all pain?