The Black Buggy

By Elton Camp North on Highway Forty-Three Up into the state of Tennessee Ethridge is the name of the place A colony of the Amish embrace Wide gravel lanes to the side Is where the buggies can ride Out of the speeding traffic lane Since cars, the Plain Folk disdain A few drivers shout in anger as they drive But a way of life is struggling to survive Moving at such a slow gait We have no right to berate They have time and eyes to see Green pasture and passing tree Roadside flowers in finest array They’re able to enjoy every day A majestic hawk perched high Car drivers miss speeding by Clouds all of fleecy white To them, an amazing sight Riding in the open air Wind rustles their hair When the gas prices rise, It’s nothing in their eyes It’s partially a solution To the crisis of pollution And they have never yet Paid car repair shop debt For car insurance, no need Just a sturdy horse to feed Families talk as they roll along Or even share a happy song With just a leisurely drive At their homes they arrive. Usually clean, painted white Not any electric line in sight So they never have reason to deplore When the electric board says, “More.” Must be quite a thrill Paying no utility bill Perhaps the best thing yet Is the absence of a TV set Oprah is to them unknown MTV to Amish isn’t shown New, exciting soap opera star? Don’t even know who they are For “As the World Turns,” they don’t care About the leading character’s latest affair Plain Folk have no reason to fear Their clothes not in style next year For persons dressed in basic black Of “name brands” feel no lack Their weight stays just right Without need for a special diet Amish lifestyle always include Hard work and wholesome food Makeup has never touched a face Sinful pride would be a disgrace Whether women be young or old No neck or ears decked with gold It’s felt to be very wrong Unless her hair stays long No woman can be discovered Who has her head uncovered Beards on the married men Its absence thought to be a sin Wars the “English” fight Not to them any delight Gives them nary a thrill Nation’s enemies to kill Wisdom from above Requires godly love There’s no basis for doubt Amish try to carry that out “What if everybody felt that way?” Some patriot zealot is sure to say Then newspaper would all proclaim “They gave a war and nobody came.”