i do mind dying

"dearly beloved,
we are gathered
here today in . . .

. . . detroit, michigan: home of the "motown sound"
gm
ford
chrysler
rats in the kitchen and roaches in the bathroom
no heat in winter & nothing cool when the summer comes
pistons pounding out a DRUM beat . . . "do you take" . . . "to love and cherish" . . . woodward avenue
junkies, whores & little kids on the way up to take their places
a dime bag to get the day over with . . . "and do you take" . . . "to have and to hold" . . . the day shift, afternoons, midnights - at least 8 hrs. with the devil in hell
rouge, chevy, fisherbody (makes dead bodies), budd, eldon gear & axle, dodge main, jefferson, iron foundries & specialty forge foundries
monsters that eat alive & spit out bloody hands
feet pieces of skin and bone
& with regularity - A DEAD BODY! ! ! . . . friday nite . . . get that check
carry it on home to the crib (with wife & kids), then get out on the street: get fucked up
(reefer, jones, coke, ups & downs, johnnie walker black & red)
try to freeze your head
can't think about the shit starting all over a gain on Monday.
. . . "and now a message from our sponsor" watch tv
listen to the radio
read papers
they all say: "buy this, get that & YOU TWO can be a success."
damn, brother, sister, a success in this motorized, computerized, iron & steel jungle is just staying alive! ! !

"in sickness and in health" detroit, michigan/any city
"for better, or for worse" my/our home

"until DEATH

do us part."

b. p. Flanigan