Down By The Water

I walked along the river
near the factory
closed defaced
and failing

Bassett is history.

Old two bedroom places
falling in the stream
behind all the houses
homes to Jimmy Beam.

Overseas is cheaper than
empty, coming down
funereal Fridays
fungi infected town.

They're killing us on purpose
carving up this place
living rooms for furniture
now coffin filling space.

I sat down by the river
watching baby deer
people sang
on broken porches
"Oh Lord
why are we here? "
 
Pain a chair
with worn out springs
couch is by the road
roof sags and
the bank this morning
asked "where will you go?"

They dropped a bomb
decades ago
quietly with charm.

It echoes through
the factory where ghosts
play murmuring cards

as the river slivers past
crumbling their back yards

rocks in pockets
tell the kids
I've finished my memoirs

I'm in the pool they need me
back here
snorkeling my cigar.