Where once there were railroads, there now are dry weeds, The tragedy hits the small town, which concedes, Its citizens flee the continued decline Of commerce and finance, which soon realign In cities metropolis, feeding demand For more and more money while rich firms expand. Its Main Street once bustled with people and cars, With art shops expanding their sidewalk bazaars, The comings and goings of patrons who shop And follow commands from their one traffic cop. The diner was full at the end of the block, Especially lunch time when townfolk would flock. So what of the plight of the rural home town, When factories fail and their markets close down? The land left to grazing won't mean very much Compared to the lifestyle, the township's quaint touch, To knowing your neighbors and watching kids grow, They'll never be hamlets like those long ago. The schoolhouse is empty, replaced by a bus That carries the pupils for miles to discuss What history teaches of progress and time, And how they are better in cities with crime, With corporate farmers and Wall Street affairs With leaders who cater to rich millionaires. There certainly can be an argument made For moving away when economies fade, But better to gather and plan for success, To rally the neighbors and fight the distress. Complacency gone and its failures ignored, The life of the home town may still be restored.
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AuthorJack has published over 350 poems in his career, many with his own photography. He specializes in a view of the commonplace and Americana. Archives
February 2021
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