Detroit Unhinged
I saw the face of despair on
the news last night—an hour of concern
houses lost through mortgages
abandoned to vandals
and bargain-buyer dealers
homes for even a $1
wind ravaged
introducing a beaver into the river
first time in 75 years
heard it later on Regis’ show.
The wrinkled singer on his porch
strumming out hard times
came here fifty-one years ago
with nothing
time has a way of plinking its way
back around the bend.
And I wept for America
a land of friends
a place the world looks up to
wounded
but not out of the picture.
Overcome the decay
in your neighbourhoods
and streets with crowded asphalt
broken window reminders
of your pain.
I know you’ll come back to America
and I’ll be waiting.
© 2009 Richard L. Provencher
All Rights Reserved
Comments
Nathan Bednarek | July 6, 2009 - 06:13
A very nice poem and one of your longest, I think! ;-)
I'm going away on holiday literally in about two hours, so till next time! (I'm going to have so much to catch up on when I get back...)
Nathan.
sarah wilson | July 6, 2009 - 06:56
I really like this Richard, there's a sadness to it which is so relevant:) sarah x
Richard L. Prov... | July 6, 2009 - 18:59
Hi Nathan--hope you have a great holiday. Right now, I have been writing a lot; when the muse hits, do it. Every once in a while, like now, I experiment a little, like a branch reaching from the main trunk of inspiration. What comes out, no one really knows. But, it's fun. Writing should be fun. Richard LP
Richard L. Prov... | July 6, 2009 - 19:02
Hello Sarah, Yes Detroit is having its problems right now, and I was mezmerized watching the program re its difficulties due to the global cunch. Part of the writiing life is writing about the sadness, and conveying an air of encouragment, rather than only dwell on the loss of dignity for such a great city.
Richard LP