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WORD'S WORTH With Eric Balkind The poet speaks to us of truth Millions of words have been spoken (and written) concerning the issue of garbage disposal and the evils of wanton pollution. Rather than adding to that verbiage, I draw your attention to the eloquent wisdom of a genuinely great writer who could already recognise the seeds of disaster being sown in his own world. Bear in mind that this work was first published in 1919. Was anybody listening then? Who is listening now? Natural Theology Primitive I ate my fill of a whale that died And stranded after a month at sea.... There is a pain in my inside. Why have the Gods afflicted me? Pagan How can the skin of rat or mouse hold Anything more than a harmless flea?... The burning plague has taken my household. Why have my Gods afflicted me? All my kith and kin are deceased, Though they were as good as good could be. I will out and batter the family priest, Because my Gods have afflicted me. Medieval My privy and well drain into each other After the custom of Christendie.... Fevers and fluxes are wasting my mother. Why has the Lord afflicted me? The Saints are helpless for all I offer-- So are the clergy I used to fee. Henceforward I keep my cash in my coffer, Because the Lord has afflicted me. Material I run eight hundred hens to the acre. They die by dozens mysteriously.... I am more than doubtful concerning my Maker. Why has the Lord afflicted me? What a return for all my endeavour-- Not to mention the L.S.D.! I am an atheist now and forever, Because this God has afflicted me! Progressive Money spent on an Army or Fleet Is homicidal lunacy.... My son has been killed in the Mons retreat. Why is the Lord afflicting me? Why are murder, pillage and arson And rape allowed by the Deity? I will write to the 'Times,' deriding our parson Because my God has afflicted me. Chorus We had a kettle: we let it leak: Our not repairing it made it worse. We haven't had any tea for a week.... The bottom is out of the Universe. Conclusion This was none of the good Lord's pleasure, For the Spirit He breathed in Man is free But what comes after is measure for measure, And not a God that afflicteth thee. As was the sowing so the reaping Is now and evermore shall be. Thou art delivered to thy own keeping. Only Thyself hath afflicted thee. -- Rudyard Kipling Clean up dog dirt To whom it may concern (someone in the Jeffrey Avenue area whose dog roams at night). Can you tell me why I am supposed to clean up your dog's dirt in my back garden. I have grandchildren who like to play in the yard, which I much prefer to dogs that prowl at night. I gave up my pets when I came back to town for this same reason. Very annoyed, Joyce Buchanan, Jeffrey A venue NDP all the way! To the editor, NDP, NDP, NDP -- Noel Duignan Please reply to the letters that have been sent to you. NDP, NDP --Noel Duignan's Pen: I am starting to wonder if he has one. NDP, NDP -- Nothing but Dump Policies are killing off this province. We are starting to be done like toast. Government is expanding, with all kinds of new taxes, to the point where we are now only allowed by government to keep less than half of what we earn. With 25 per cent of the population that voted in our New Day Princes, one would think that there should be some way to control these people. But no, we have to keep the most inept government for a five-year term. How lucky can we get? John Shadbolt, Tidey Avenue Nothing better to do? To the Enforcement Dept., Clerk's office, Town of Halton Hills: Enclosed please find my $8 contribution to the financial well-being of the Town of Halton Hills. I trust you will now be able to balance the budget. Unfortunately, Parking Officer No. 9903 gave me the parking infraction notice for the wrong reason. The offence I did commit at approximately 7:52 pm, Friday, July 17, was supporting local business. In most areas that I am familiar with, parking metres take their bite until 6 pm, but Halton Hills apparently needs a 12-hour grab between 9 am and 9 pm. On this account, I plead guilty and promise not to venture into downtown Georgetown again prior to 9 pm each day. This won'f help local business but it will help me balance my financial affairs. R. Johnston, Acton Boulevard P.S., If is wasn't for the exceptional food at the House of Buddha, it wouldn't have been worth the drive from Acton. More happy customers To the editor, We were very pleased with the response to our ad that we recently placed in the Classifieds section of the Acton Tanner. The ad enabled us to sell our vehicle soon after advertising, and our success has prompted us to use the Tanner classified ads again in the future. Many thanks to the editor and talented staff of the Acton Tanner for their faith in the citizens of this town, and for starting up Acton's own newspaper. Jim and Sophie Warrington, Acton Boulevard