Eye of the Beholder

One man sees as so much junk,
    another man sees treasure;
what looks like nothing to the one,
    another sees as pleasure.

This throw-away society
  has no regard for what's inside;
The bigger toys, houses, cars -
  are things on which we thrive.

Material, expensive --
  all the joys that cash can buy
but happy feelings quickly fade,
  continued search for their next high.


Factories to build our stuff
    and trucks to ship it back and forth -
God's green earth sits uncared for
    technology instead, the worth.

Slowly species disappear
    flowers, animals and trees...
how long before the next to go
    will be humanity?

Simple beauty is what's best
  Love's treasure is what's true
Reshift our focus to the heart;
  it can begin with just us two.

The green of grass, majestic trees
  the mountains topped with snow
bright patches of wildflowers
  and the rhythmic river's flow...

To be at one with nature
  is simplicity and peace
honest work and gentle pay
  that skyscrapers threaten to cease.

We push ourselves - faster, faster!
  when does the rushing end?
When looking back upon our lives
    and years -
              how were they spent...?

Enjoying the gift that was
  given to us of life -
or years of bills we can't afford
  relationships of strife?

Always bigger, always best
  to build the corporate machine
trade physical for spiritual...
  industry gray replacing green.

How sad some do not see these things
  even when time has made us older,

but then... beauty has always lain
  in the eye of the beholder.