Tin Men

1968 Marlette Singlewide 12x60 
A shack made home in Hill View Trailer Park
     1981
Sat in the corner 4 feet from any side, chicken
     wire made a yard
Fresh wood steps to the front door
     recently replaced cinder blocks
Sporting a crown of used tires to defend the roof
     from the ever raging winds

And I, 4 feet high covered in velour V necks
     and corduroy
Content not to leave my world unless to school
     and back
Roaming the pot hole infected gravel roads
     with my pal insisting on trouble like 2
     49ers roaming the streets of a mining
     camp made of tin

And tin everywhere-
     Tin doors
     Tin walls
     Tin roofs
     Tin sheds
     Tin fences

     And     Tin     Men

Tin men who lost their hearts while chasing
     opportunity, chased no more

Tin men who buried their successes in the
     tin graveyard on the adjacent field-

     Remains of large Buicks and Oldsmobiles
     overcame by weeds
     Who used to proudly carry men to work,
     carry no more

     Remains of refrigerators left half open
     in rust, not one with a lock
     Who smartly presented children with
     after school snacks
     Served no more

Tin men who counted the days until the
     food bank made its monthly visit