Goodness Hasn't Come This Way In Years Poem by Keith Dovoric

It's a ravaged town down in these parts
The jobless faces and those heavy hearts
The sun barely makes it in before it disappears
A cold cold sky, clouds corrupt
Even the billboards won't look up
‘cause goodness hasn't come this way in years

Bone kids living outta tinted Fords
Barely separate from the cord
Innocence tied to the stake and surrounded by spears
I used to know happiness and love
Now I cry out to whatever's above
‘cause goodness hasn't come this way in years

Some camouflaged personnel roll by
I go to salute but don't wonder why
I guess I bought into the dogma of courage and fear
When all the protection and virtues cease,
I might even kill for one moment's peace
‘cause goodness hasn't come this way in years

The water is receding after the flood
Baptizing a Lutheran church in mud
It's all the space left to pray and weep acolyte's tears
Forgive us our trespasses into crime
Our holy ghosts live on borrowed time
When goodness hasn't come this way in years

The folksinger died in a burning crash -
A whole culture paid for his pine box in cash
While his own kids parade their scars in front of the mirror
But by then, there won't be music left
When a scene dies, it dies a megaton death
And goodness will not come this way for years.