Moved to Tears
they moved from Vermont
and the Berkshires
south to Connecticut’s shore
moved to the land
of bratwurst and cheeses
to Sheboygan and back
to the Blue Ridge for more
moved to the land
where roadrunners race
where ocotillo grows
in wide open space
south and east
to the land of the pine
moved for a time to old Appalachia
moved to the Smokies
in North Caroline
at last they moved West
in hopes it would be
a move toward home,
and sanity
Utah, Arizona, Colorado
along the great divide
where the air is clear
and the views open wide
if you add up ‘em all up
all the beginnings and ends
the sad goodbyes
to new-made friends
and all those years
of unknown fears
moving trucks
and changing gears
you’ll know why now
they’re moved to tears
how many times
can furniture be stored
or tied on top
with bungee cord
how many moves
can they really make
how many cross-country drives
can anyone take?
how many towns
will they call home
how far can they go
how far will they roam?
oh the packing tape
on each cardboard box
new license plates
new primary docs
when home is
a rental
and a P.O. Box
through address changes
and open ranges
following their hearts all those years
if you asked why they did it
they can hardly say
they’re moved to tears
maybe it’s the new American way,
to follow work where it is today
paycheck gypsies out on the run
crossing the country in search of each one
for the pact is broken now
loyalty long gone somehow
businesses cutting every cost
without knowing all that’s lost
if you add up ‘em all up
all the beginnings and ends
the sad goodbyes
to new-made friends
and all those years
of unknown fears
you’ll know why
they were moved to tears
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