SUNRISE IN THE URBAN SOUTH
Back when I gave poetry readings - back when I knew people who organized readings - I would introduce this poem by saying simply "This poem is a metaphor."
And that's a pretty good summation. This is a description of the history of the Urban South, specifically Charlotte, starting in the 60's and culminating in the early 80's. The Post War Boom was a little late getting to the South, but by the 60's business was booming big time, and all the white trash Biznezmen were out to get their slice of the pie. Only a lot of stuff they weren't counting on came with the pie, like integration, pollution, and Yankees. It was a struggle for the Urban South to adjust, and for a while there it was mighty ugly. Things are MUCH better now. Believe me. (Although we still can't manage to do mass transit.)
This is a very specific poem full of very specific images and allusions. Click here for an explanation of what, precisely, the hell I'm talking about.