I am in Amish Land,
And I look out my window
To find a horse and carriage
Tied to the post that marks the parking spot.
And I wonder at their tenacity,
Their drive to preserve the old way.
I wonder and yet, I also relate.
I am surprised at how much
I am the same.
I live far simpler
Than my contemporaries.
I do not vote. And I cannot be compelled to go to war
Even to save my life or the lives of those I love.
And some people would say that is evil.
But it doesn’t matter.
It’s who I am.
It’s who I came to be.
And though I do not drive a horse and carriage,
I do put reigns upon the places
That the world would lead.
And I find peace
In my simple life. And gratitude.
And I can only imagine that they do too.