Arts, Crafts, Music, & Events of Breckinridge County Issue 2, July 2015 | Page 39

In The Name Of Progress
By Greg Hicks

Driving down the road I see, so much has changed,
The things that once were, only a few remain.
There’s shopping centers and malls where the family farms used to be.
More stores to sell us things, we didn’t know we need.
I see people alone, texting on their phones.
And meeting others on the street, without a word to say.
There are churches with locked doors, and gated parking lots
And no danger of anyone getting in to pray.
I remember a time with front porch swings, & neighbors were our friends
Family suppers each night at the table, and family weekends.
Church on Sunday mornings, when all our stores were closed.
When God, family, and country were the values to hold.
When prayer was in our school and we taught the golden rule.
The pledge to the flag, and the Ten Commandments were there.
In God we Trust, were more than just words to say.
It’s been our way of life, since our founding day.
In the name of progress, we’ve changed so much.
And in the name of progress, we’ve lost touch
With what really matters. So much has been lost.
The progress we’ve made, comes at a great cost.
©Greg Hicks