I will grieve alone, br As I strolled alone, years ago, down along br The Ohio shore. br I hid in the hobo jungle weeds br Upstream from the sewer main, br Pondering, gazing. br br I saw, down river, br At Twenty-third and Water Streets br By the vinegar works, br The doors open in early evening. br Swinging their purses, the women br Poured down the long street to the river br And into the river. br br I do not know how it was br They could drown every evening. br What time near dawn did they climb up the other shore, br Drying their wings? br br For the river at Wheeling, West Virginia, br Has only two shores: br The one in hell, the other br In Bridgeport, Ohio. br br And nobody would commit suicide, only br To find beyond death br Bridgeport, Ohio.