The following poem and accompanying photos were shot in Booneville, Ky., the poorest white community in the United States, making it the second-poorest community overall. Seeing entire communities entirely under the poverty line, almost completely disconnected from the rest of civilization and forgotten. Such a sight is not an anomaly, particularly within Appalachia.
The poem is intended to set a tone for the collection, as well as demonstrate why communities of those seeking better lives are now a Land of [lost] Opportunity, a condemnation at birth.
“For Rent:
Starting at $1,000
New and Used Available
Call Danny”
Starting at $1,000
New and Used Available
Call Danny”
South of the Red River, far off the Mountain Parkway,
a haphazard scattering of mostly-vacant mobile homes,
each perched atop a handful of cinder blocks,
detract from the holler’s natural beauty.
a haphazard scattering of mostly-vacant mobile homes,
each perched atop a handful of cinder blocks,
detract from the holler’s natural beauty.
Atop the adjacent hill,
the town cemetery’s inhabitants overlook their arduous past—
separated by only a pasture lined by barbed wire,
farmhouse, and long gravel drive.
the town cemetery’s inhabitants overlook their arduous past—
separated by only a pasture lined by barbed wire,
farmhouse, and long gravel drive.
A John Doe’s grave reads—
“Once like a bird in prison I dwelt
No freedom from my sorrow I felt
But Jesus came and listened to me
And glory to God, He set me free”
No freedom from my sorrow I felt
But Jesus came and listened to me
And glory to God, He set me free”
—begging the question of intent.
Is this an expression of reality,
or merely a favorite song by coincidence?
If one’s life is full of indignation,
is there dignity in, and only in, death?
or merely a favorite song by coincidence?
If one’s life is full of indignation,
is there dignity in, and only in, death?
This community, teased with a taste of modernity,
shall never see needs met, nor desires satiated.
Constantly teetering on collapse;
each generation, stuck in the same rut as the former.
shall never see needs met, nor desires satiated.
Constantly teetering on collapse;
each generation, stuck in the same rut as the former.
Save the lucky few,
how can you quantify the dreams unrealized,
the stories unwritten,
and the light snuffed out?
how can you quantify the dreams unrealized,
the stories unwritten,
and the light snuffed out?
