THE EMPTY MALL

[Neville Briggs]

THE EMPTY MALL.

It is dim and dank and dirty.
Some weeds are edging through the concrete cracks.
The shop displays
are empty, and silence
doesn't try to invite the crowds of once, spenders
bargain hunters and lolly lickers
to throng back.
The shiny gold shop-door jambs cringe
into grey coated dulling brass.
Bright glass windows turned to greasy slate.
Where shoppers feet hurried
now cats and rats and gritty winds
scurry.
So much money spent to build
the catacombs of retail therapists.

[thestoryteller]

Probably some poor pensioners superannuation investment gone down the gurgler.

Interesting read Nev.

[Maureen K Clifford]

A sign of the times Neville - where more and more new buildings go up whilst existing shopping centres and apartment blocks are far from full. And why do developers keep doing that I wonder? In China there are whole towns with no occupants - their Govt I believe work on the principle that it is keeping people employed but it seems a totally unsustainable economy to me http://www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2 ... st-cities/
likewise in inner Mongolia where developers built the city of Ordos for one million people. But most of it remains empty.

A well crafted write Neville which gives food for thought.

I particularly liked this line

The shiny gold shop-door jambs cringe
into grey coated dulling brass.

[Shelley Hansen]

I missed this one when you posted it Neville - my loss!

I particularly like the same lines that Maureen quoted - but it is all very evocative.

Sounds like you are describing the CBD of my town of Maryborough, Queensland. It is a sad, sorry and empty tomb. Last week Rod and I were involved (poetically) in the launch of a historical display of memorabilia from two of Maryborough's iconic department stores of the past - Stuparts Ltd and Boys Pty Ltd. They were thriving family businesses that sadly, are no more.

Times and people have changed.

Cheers
Shelley