. Self-Reliance
Shop for a sports car, Chop your wood,
Know the best restaurants, Grow your food,
Pitch an old wardrobe, Stitch your clothes,
Appraise a big house, Raise your shelter,
Brand an image, Stand your ground,
Befriend on Facebook, Tend your neighbor,
Deplete the environment, Meet your Nature,
And you won’t know And you will know
Who you are. All your worth.
In this rich yet rugged scene, one man stands quietly yet firmly on moral ground, filled with the simple life in tune with his natural maker. He chops his own wood; it is survival over ego which is imminent here. Nature is respected; neighbors are a welcome help. By extension, both the painting and the poem beg the comparison to the complex world of society where nature is suppressed and men challenge each other for material reward, far removed from their “self-reliant” nature in which their communion with God, others, and themselves can thrive.