To see an American Death,
see the bitter green, acrid factory smoke and fumes
from belching, sprawling, raw-edged factories.
See the tired, greasy figures in shabby overalls,
muted, smothered, caged automatons,
the cigarette shufflers of their generation.
See the bitter green air, foul, toxic, stinking,
belching outward from the sprawling factories.
See the tired, greasy workers, muted,
behind leaden gates that are closing
on the scalding haze, gloom choking life out.
You will see skeletal death passing within.
There are hearts aching with dull grief tonight
for another life was claimed.
They search for and find memories, unanswered love,
and tears fall unbidden, carrying their sorrow to the grave.
But their spirits are together,
seeking and finding the light.
And they, suffering through another American death,
have their torn shrouds, full of holes,
their cloak for all their sorrows,
which is mended with silken thread
and full of tepid tears.
Scarlett Treat
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/an-american-death-revised/
