Chalmers Street

Tires bobbing in and out of holes in this road

Intersection buzzing

New cars

Old cars

The clink clank of dragging mufflers

Despairing people walk by signs declaring

This is Motor City!

Vagabonds chase after a dime or quarter at a time

Can you hear the tears Chalmers cries?

 

Drugs being passed and stashed

Where you work and children play

Schools and teachers disappearing

Dealers emerging and substituting—

Take the street life, not the book life!

The corner store clerk

Slips unmarked green

With some dirty change

Adding to another addict’s demise

Can you hear the tears Chalmers cries?

 

Another fire

Has claimed its own

For hell has come to Detroit

A long time ago

Half torn down buildings

Mark yesterday

And today

Surrounded by dead trees

Missing grass and gritty dirt

Dilapidated houses

Frown and bow

To passersby

Can you hear the tears Chalmers cries?