Been down to New Orleans

And I saw that yellow-black line
it stretched flat out over miles
and stretches long across time.

Marked every standing structure
like a level-headed angel of death,
sucking the life out of a city
draining its dollars into dark swirls
of corrupt bureaucracy
and deep pockets lined
with the Big, Easy
Money.

miles away from bourbon street,
everyone leaves at dusk.
when night falls, bullets fly
and the national guard is
standing by
168 murders, no convictions last year
20-some so far this one.
Half as much in population.
Raise the rent by half again.
Insurance now four times as much
If you can get it at all.

Which is worse? The New Orleans Before or the New Orleans Now?

But the bon temps roule en plus, oui, they do.
The city’s pride is solidified by those who survived
When you hear a waiter say “Thank you”,
You know they mean it.
I’ve seen it in their eyes
Welling up with pride and desperation.
The restoration, as it’s so-called
Is going slowly if at all,
from what I’ve seen
Down in New Orleans