“Smith's Context ” [“Reflections On Adam Smith's Book An Inquiry Into The Nature And Causes Of The Wealth Of Nations Indianapolis : Liberty Classics, 1981 (Vol.I and II) Book 1, Sphere-Model - Chapter 1D”]

When Adam wrote his many tomes,
’Twas Scotland which he called his home;
A “Civilized and thriving” place,
“Well governed” as to social space.

He wrote in 1776,
With emendations after it
For ten years, ’till edition four –
So what he viewed from then, gives more –

Perspective on a life back then –
As Yanks rebelled; that’s also when
The UEL’s came flooding North
To Canada (in King’s saw worth).

Lord Selkirk (settled Winnipeg)
Was born in Scotland – he who led
Some victims of the clearances
To new lands in his voyages.

’Twas such a wild and woolly time –
The slave-trade thrived across the brine;
Two decades ’fore Charles Darwin’s birth;
Six years since Nappy came to earth.

The Mennonites conducted talks
With Russians, so that they could walk
Their chosen life-road in their lands
(They later came to southern Man.).

When Adam wrote ’twas fifteen years
Into the change, awash in tears,
Now called a revolution time
For industry, with coal from mines.

Inventions spread with speed o’er space –
With sixty, eighty years of race
In Europe and the New World scene
For dominance, where peace had been.

My adult working life, in fact,
Stretched over those same years, when tacked
On to their span, two centuries –
It gives perspective I can see.

The “60s” were for us the change;
Now here we are, life re-arranged,
In 2020 – like back then –
From 60s to the 20s – blend –

Of new and old then settled down –
Two decades then would be around
As pattern of all life forthwith
Was set, awash in business myth.

For “Ways of business” (eons past),
Kept labels, though it’s change was vast –
(Like axle-sizes for old paths
Were kept as width for spaceship’s tracks).

So Lord, what should we make of this,
As we live through the tears and bliss
Of life beyond such “Industry”,
And digitized-new-life we see?

“Stu, carry on, it is okay –
In Adam Smith hear what he says,
And then you’ll see next stretch of path –
A ‘Present-future’ based on past.”

Okay Lord thanks for this.

navigation