Ode to Weirton, WV
I crossed the Ohio River after 400 miles
Cycling through the burned out Steel town of Weirton, WV
I’m home again to rust and young men in muscle cars
The grocery store is now a Family Dollar
And the steel mill closed two months ago
“Save Our Mill” signs on storefronts
I remember a priest friend Fr Bill Graham worked the Ohio River towns in the 80s when those mills closed
His eyes glanced down when he mentioned another suicide
Working class towns have public parks with the toys of war for children to play on
Preparing them young
The young employees in Subway gave me the news
“They closed Our Steel Mill and made it a battery factory”
There are pathways out of Wierton
The age-old practice in these communities Cannibalizing the young
The lucky few make it to freedom
The rest watch the parades
Save a few bucks at the Dollar Tree
And eventually are sucked into the Trump brigades
James Walsh, Romero Theater Troupe; see his photos here