BORN TO BE WILD AND FREE by Bill Marder

All of my life I have been searching

For the

WILD AND FREE

In nature and in me

I grew up swimming in concrete pools

Living in isolated houses

With manicured lawns,

And manicured people

I did not know how sad I was

Or what was missing

From my life

As all of my life

I have been searching

To be

WILD AND FREE

Now there are small woods

Behind my house

Nesting Birds, Lizards, Rabbits, Raccoons, Squirrels

And our Amorous Snake

That all are free to run

WILD AND FREE

It was here I started to nurture the spirit in me

That yearned to be free

Forgetting the television shows

Frozen foods and Frozen emotions

There were hints

Of what my soul could see

Where nature was

WILD AND FREE

Now I can spend the day on the Green, Rainbow

Or Withalacoochee Rivers

Among the few that are still

WILD AND FREE

Imagine a river flowing so fast

That it energizes the air around it

Imagine a view of pristine beauty

With Alligators, Anhingas,

Egrets, Great Blue Herons,

Turtles, Wild Flowers, and a host

Of other wildlife roaming free

It penetrates your soul

As you imagine you are

WILD AND FREE

I wonder why

It took so long

To find a place

TO BE FREE

TO BE HAPPY

TO EXPLORE

Nature that is Still

WILD AND FREE

This must be the same Spirit and Nature

As Long Ago

When Our Ancestors Roamed

WILD AND FREE