Adios to the Autos

Adios Autos

We came to Michigan from points east and west
From poverty and oppression
And brought pierogi and pasties and parkas
We came to Michigan where we worshipped without fear.
As perdition became independence.

We came to Michigan from Mississippi
From Memphis and Montgomery
And brought macaroni and Methodists and mittens
We came to Michigan where we were needed for work
As agrarian became industrialization.

When we came to Michigan we lived well
We met and married and bought housesAnd worked and worried and had benefits and babies
We spanked them and spoiled them and spent money on college
As our boomers beget generation next.

When we came to Michigan we were well
And found that contented comes with compensated
Because we were well fed and well clothed and well sheltered
And that was why we came to Michigan in the first place
As pay and perks become pensions.

We are not needed in Michigan now
We have overstayed our welcome
Because we eat sushi with chili dogs
And celebrate Christmas and Kwanza and Chanukah with equal glee
As suburbans and silverados become sonatas and passats

We will move away from Michigan now
And wonder where our children’s children will work
Because they live in blended, bi-hyphened, step-cycled families
And text and type and take-out and multi-task
As we lived in Michigan we were well.