Here:
(Subtext - There:)
There's always water. Always. All the time.
(Free water from the heavens.)
(You learn not to be so OCD.)
been descaled, skinned, filleted and apportioned.
(You get to have the Whole fish. All of it.)
no bloodsucking insect is to be found.
(You learn not to be such a wuss.)
safely inside the walls.
(Electrical wires are easy to work on.)
And a gazillion options in the store.
(You learn planning. And self-control.)
at 4am, hopefuls for an appointment that day.
(A doctor's appointment costs $4 - $16 without insurance.
The medicine is usually even cheaper.)
And noise ordinances.
And small business licenses.
And drivers stay on their side of the roads.
And people lock their doors even when they're home.
(Make all the noise you want.
Sell whatever you want from your door.
Play "real-life" video game Indy-500!
Don't need to lock your door hardly ever.)
machete by the time they're four.
Nor do they take them to school for "work day."
Nor know how to cook for their family
by the time they're nine.
Five-year-olds are not "in charge" of their
one-year-old siblings,
And six-year-olds don't walk the streets
for six to eight hours a day selling fruit. Or nuts. Or bread.
(Children know how to be responsible.
And not complain.
And work hard.)
(People are thinner and for the most part healthier.)
(People are more flexible and tolerant.)
(You learn wisdom. And generosity.)
don't wake me up at night...
Yet sleep is more elusive.
(I sleep like a rock after a good day's work.)
