TRAVELS BEFORE THE RUST BELT

Attempt at prose poem.

My father traveled to the cities of the rust belt before it was the rust belt.  Midsized towns with flinty sounding names--Benton Harbor, Gary, Ft. Wayne, Milwaukee, Jackson, Toledo, Union City, and Muncie--selling his foundry's metal to forge engine blocks, aircraft parts,farm equipment, and power mowers.  The names remain familiar as a well-used, reliable tool remains familiar.  One Saturday, playing in his car I found a hickory night stick under the driver's seat.  He said, he kept it for protection; that some of the factories weren't in nice neighborhoods.  Like a constellation of smaller, Sandburg Chicagos--these factory towns were stormy, husky and brawling. 

Reviews

[bobc]

R...like this poem. Particularly liked '...smaller, Sandburg Chicagos'. Good sound and rhythm overall...once I was able to get through the format in this one. I know the style used is simply a choice you've made but I wonder if it distracts from the reading. ...bobc

[rutherford]

bobc,
helpful review. new at the prose poem and will go back and work on format. i used an old looking font to be reminiscent of the time of typewriters.