Requiem for Flint

Wade in the Water
Wade in the Water, children
Wade in the Water
God’s gonna trouble the water
Mayor Dayne Walling raised
a glass of water before TV cameras
then pushed a black button to
connect the Flint River to
the water’s treatment plant
“It’s regular, good, pure drinking water
and it’s right in our backyard!
he reassured the good people of Flint
as he gulped it down
“This is the first step in the right direction
for Flint, as we take this monumental step
forward in controlling the future of our
community’s most precious resource.”
Gov’ner Snyder, the mayor and all the
civic partners patted themselves on their backs
for saving $80-$100 a day!
Wade in the water . . .
The bait-and-switch plan backfired
and the river burned like fire
on the tongues and bellies of
their mostly poor and black citizenry
There were not enough fingers to go around
when blame skipped town
It was a case of cash before caring
Wade in the water . . .
Who will save a whole generation
poisoned with lead?
Or the children lying in critical now?
Flint fades to black as the river burns like fire
as its people pray for just one drop of water
just one clean drop
to quench their dying thirst
Wade in the Water
—Genny Lim

Genny Lim

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