Have you ever found yourself thinking about “back when things were simpler?” Back when we played outside until the street lights came on. There were no cell phones. Mom didn’t text us to come home. She just stepped out onto the back porch and yelled our names. We didn’t spend all night on social media or playing computer games. Appliances were easier to use. I was thinking about this just this morning. So I was tickled when I came across a poetry book at my job at the local public library. It’s a collection of poems by Mary Oliver. The collection is called Blue Horses.

I think you’ll really enjoy her poem What I Can Do.

The television has two instruments that control it.
I get confused.
The washer asks me, do you want regular or delicate?
Honestly, I just want clean.
Everything is like that.
I won’t even mention cell phones.

I can turn on the light of the lamp beside my chair
Where a book is waiting, but that’s about it.

Oh yes, and I can strike a match and make fire.