Now in the autumn of my life
The bright colors of fall bring a bounty
Paired with a desperate knowing that soon
Gas-powered leaf blowers will surround me.
Such a horrid sound — must we really all suffer
This exercise that’s so pointless and dumb?
They blow them into the street or on the lawn of a neighbor
As if there aren’t more leaves to come.
We rebel against unmuffled cars
And curse airports with low-flying jets
We’re so sensitive if music’s too loud
And we muzzle our barking pets.
We legislate against all forms of pollution
Be it from lights, or swamps, or cars,
But somehow we have all accepted
The racket in our own backyards!
It’s not as if there is no solution;
Batteries now power most everything,
Your car, your drill and your skillsaw
Can’t we apply this to just one more thing?
The reward would be heard in an instant
Peaceful silence would fill our heads
Our local walks will bring lasting relief
When the gas-powered leaf blower is dead!
Howard Mitchell
Sag Harbor
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