Around the corners, in the hearts of the cities
By the lane’s end, selling all nitty gritties
Shadowing the tired old family grocer’s stall
spread all over the place, looming large that mall…

a modern witch like, luring casting its market spells
‘best buy! yours to choose!’ the graceless sales guy tells
money exchanged - no smell of fresh note or clanking of old coin
cards and coupons answer the bill
at the end of an unending line
Surely the property plays host to spirits
where we once tossed pebbles to seal a trade,
leisure afternoons when mom called out from home
to run and buy salt for her special lemonade

that was when… when we had hours

here now our hours refuse to see the rest of earth.
This time today, morning of midnight madness,
the minutes quicken between escalators.
Faster than food the climate cringes

Waiting for love on those obscure stone benches
before a crowd comes from heat and hooves
of buses screeching to a stop before the ATMs
No more is it in, the pavements selling dolls
And No more bargains, its thanks to the malls!!