Elegy for Cities Embracing Smart Growth

With apologies to John Lennon, I imagine a city without cars.
Exhaust fumes replaced by fine boutiques and fern bars.
All the people walk to workplace and shops,
And the streets are patrolled by mo-ped cops.
All city life is one of perfect precision,
Nothing's out of place if you have a Grand Vision.

With apologies to Stevie Wonder, living just enough for the city
Means that sometimes everything's not always pretty
Unless real smart people institute real smart plans
To avoid urban sprawl and pesky fruit stands.
All city life is one of perfect precision,
Nothing's out of place if you have a Grand Vision.

Give up your property rights for the greater good
If it means you can claim that your neighborhood
Was laid out according to a master plan
Devised by folks who would prefer to ban
Anything nonconforming they deem isn't proper.
In their infinite wisdom your plans are scuppered.

All city life is one of perfect precision,
Nothing's out of place if you have a Grand Vision.
Forfeit your liberties, forfeit your rights,
Walk lockstep, walk only on the lines.
Regrets to Bernie Taupin and Sir Elton John for this final dart:
Living in this city, boy, is gonna break your heart.

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