#mall
Our hot girl summer rolls on - like lava downhill or male models doing - anything.
We’re in Athens, Georgia, yes, it’s hotter elsewhere - but you can die in the sun - is this really a competition?
Fashionistas and trendsetters are adorning themselves in fluorescent lime green this summer. Making it the must-have statement color for the cool kid's club. The whole aesthetic was inspired by Charli XCX’s lime-green album cover for ‘Brat.’
Now, before you roll your eyes at the state of America, where silly people are bilked by influencers - isn't that what happened in the 60s with ‘flower-power?’ Wasn’t that ‘counterculture’ flagging, where everything from school buses to bikinis were flower adorned, driven by bands like the Beatles and umm.. [fill in the blank]?
So, we tripped (sounded psychedelic) to the mall of Georgia, to shop for unnecessary, lime-green things. Nail polish (which I think eats), beach bags, coverups, Crocs, friendship bracelets (cause we’re 13-year-olds), Cinnabon's - which aren’t technically green but are delicious and the Apple store - because it makes us happy.
I’ve read, or heard it said that “malls are dying.” Not this one, on a weekday mid-morning it was packed. The line for the eighteen-movie-plex looked like Spring Festival (Chinese New Years) at the Beijing airport.
Sadly, it’s time to admit that as 20-year-olds we’ve aged out of the “Clare’s” esthetic. A 12-year-old in line to get her ears pierced, looked at me, while I was looking at friendship bracelets, like I was her grandmother and I felt it - it was real.
.
.
Two songs to go with this:
This Girl's In Love (Live At HMH) by Trijntje Oosterhuis
Riviera Life by Caro Emerald
Jul 12, 2024
Jul 12, 2024 at 1:38 PM UTC
basemented this liminal vivarium of cool moulded plastic
with mirrors standing in for windows
and a ring of branded restaurants taking refuge at the edges
all familiar no surprises
the staff set up
for the consumers morning
of slack mastication
(Local chain, national, international)
the old-timers glomming into clump
benign zombies
an arrangement of fellas with dissolving jaws
cudding over mammary notions
untailored in sacky pallid sultana skins
reform in a mumble
doing snailish pinball movements
crossing and recrossing floors
cleanly tiled for biohazard accidents
salivating about the savoury soft foods to come
the restaurants rattle-shake-raise their security blinds
also noted
a mixed bag of people projecting
into their smooth glowing slablets
making out like worldly fools
also present
cropped and groomed toy security
peering between the fronds of plastic foliage
offscreen
public bathrooms the first struggling **** of the day
also present
a bench of youngsters in bright blue screen matching pjs
the four employees of sanitation
drumming up for the shift
see also
vague happy lady in a garish sarong
importing her holiday religion
Apr 2, 2024
Apr 2, 2024 at 3:22 PM UTC
"time for the quarterly internet rabbit-hole of your early life.
are you going to spend the next hour looking for pictures of an old mall?
or by finding out the real reason why the first movie theater burned down eleven years ago?
or perhaps look at how your favorite grocery store has changed?
how about we look at the once empty fields that are now occupied by mattress stores?
then will you end it by crying yourself to sleep?
wondering why you cannot remember any of it all?
why you cannot make sense of being a child?
did you ever become conscious before 2012?
are all these hazy memories just dreams?
did you even exist in any of it?
what are you even searching for?"
anything.
Dec 28, 2021
Dec 28, 2021 at 6:29 PM UTC
Love Is Not Love
by Michael R. Burch
for Beth
Love is not love that never looked
within itself and questioned all,
curled up like a zygote in a ball,
throbbed, sobbed and shook.
(Or went on a binge at a nearby mall,
then would not cook.)
Love is not love that never winced,
then smiled, convinced
that soar’s the prerequisite of fall.
When all
its wounds and scars have been saline-rinsed,
where does Love find the wherewithal
to try again,
endeavor, when
all that it knows
is: O, because!
Published by The Neovictorian/Cochlea, The Deronda Review, Better Than Starbucks and Stremez (translated into Macedonian by Marija Girevska)
Keywords/Tags: Love, zygote, binge, mall, soar, fall, wounds, scars, tears, persistence, hope, fetal ball, sob, sobs, sobbing, shake, shaking, throb, throbbing, wince, wincing, smile, smiling, convinced, prerequisite, wherewithal, endeavor, just because
Mar 4, 2020
Mar 4, 2020 at 3:28 AM UTC
is
not perceptable inside a shopping mall.
Dec 23, 2019
Dec 23, 2019 at 10:30 AM UTC
Palaces of ****** souls
have green neon text frames
standing sideways like arches;
divine arrows, they guide
the paternal flunks, the tar-soaked offspring,
the lonely and the business bunch.
Here in these palaces, all sin is a freeze, all
lust is a spin.
Fairy lights are often flagged in a net,
to catch mischievous mares flinging
themselves against the glass displays
of overpriced clothing shops.
One finds when wondering the perpetual
lines of restaurants and cafes, the vastness of them
having a motherly touch, for
these palaces, they stretch like the sky and
they spread like the shepherded
fire ants of Gaia herself
And when ones welcome is overbid
they need only to follow the
evenly laid out, sorrow yellow street lamps
and bite their cheeks and bare the frost
for soon the polluted lux will lead them to
an overnight joint, a limbo of sorts,
where they can breathe anew.
On those red leather sofas- fast food
or the district kind- when the night seems
to crawl on its final limbs,
they'll lay and slip into sleep.
Some say they never do wake, that they
wither with the moon and then
haunt the attics of the dance halls
where they swirled and laughed and lived
in a previous life.
Nov 6, 2018
Nov 6, 2018 at 2:34 PM UTC
I watch the flicker of lights
They are clear and steady
Blazing out continuously
In brilliant letters
Huge digital billboards
And cold electronic signs
Sending signals to the brain
Of the latest consumer designs
No time to think
No time to digest it
Keep on working
To pay for the transmit
I will buy a new car
And replace the TV
Keep the system rolling
As part of the economy
Stroll around the mall
Listen to the doublespeak
Join in with the crowd
Buy the same as last week
Buy now, buy now
Self autonomy
Buy it replace it
Its good for the economy
Goodbye for now
But you will be back
Customer loyalty
With biofeedback
Jun 20, 2018
Jun 20, 2018 at 5:12 PM UTC
Coffee sharing
Going other people staring
Shopping or old fashioned talking
At the mall.
At a meeting place,
The round table at the coffee shop
amongst the bobbin belles
Of the mall.
Hearing, listening,
Talking at one time
These are warm and special
Moments with an
Urban Friend.
May 28, 2018
May 28, 2018 at 2:39 PM UTC
the initial purport
this literary effort delivered atchew
to reed constitutes hazmat tocks sin
within White House blew
per, viz thee president be
getting a Hollywood love story
with "Stormy Williams" despite brew
haha murmur, now dapper Don in deep doo doo
thus, this garrulous married pro LIX prone papa flew
off (like a bat out of hell)
to his Macbook Pro laptop presenting myself
implicating Trump as po' faux guise Mister McGoo
affiliated, confused, and explained
being on par with Winnie the Pooh
especially stuck right tub bear arms in grr...
Rabbit's House, now he doth stew
nsync, nonetheless this path a logical
rhyme stir on the straight and true
composeing grist sill for ye to view
now, nar hating, hit ting
private links provide attention turned toward
two thousand twenty presidential election campaign
no Iron nee, anno putter opportunity,
how he diplomatically strived, and nearly scored
to boast asthma, overt braggart, stalwart
asper ideal consistency of cement poured
affiliation, aggregation, and attestation moored
prevails ma (Jack booted - magical) lord
rolling back to Timbuktu progressive liberal
Democratic initiatives star Apprentice
sans ("NO LIES") being linkedin, he almost ignored
with voluble chattering class hud hoard
hobnobbing (with the likes of Missus Muir's ghost,
who resort to Matthew Scott's turf brand),
reconstituted, recycled, and repurposed, gourd
nonetheless Trumping protocol necessitates me bing bored
predictable feigned "FAKE" non accord.
Apr 17, 2018
Apr 17, 2018 at 10:31 PM UTC
where melody
juice harp
in Neshaminy
boom cyclone
was brewed
Rotation Nation
in winter
of fun
when hops
were bitter
but their
sweet ***
in creek
run their
back yard
gain outside
the mall.
Feb 16, 2018
Feb 16, 2018 at 6:51 PM UTC
The places are adorned with light,
The shops, cafes and more so bright,
While she's dressed up in pink and white,
At this gleaming plaza tonight.
After the chilly times of noon,
Up in the sky there shines the moon,
With clouds of dust who stars have strewn,
At this gleaming plaza tonight.
While walking in the chilly air,
The wind fondles her hazel hair,
Who makes her looks so fly and fair,
At this gleaming plaza tonight.
Delights and fun lie in this mall,
From sweets to smiles, you'll find them all,
In tones of smooth and soft pastel,
At this gleaming plaza tonight.
Where should I be after my days,
Other than walking in this place,
Accompanied by this sweet face?
At this gleaming plaza tonight.
Nov 16, 2017
Nov 16, 2017 at 12:00 PM UTC
the contractors moved in
with a wrecking
ball
and of great destruction
they caused at our
mall
nothing was left standing
over it all did
fall
we were aghast on seeing
the results of the
squall
their services weren't
needed around our
lot
they smashed everything
like a wind's blasting
knot
the scene was reminiscent
of a terribly mangled
spot
they'd done so much
damage on our
plot
we've witnessed the harm
they've wrought
about
vandalizing our buildings
as would a felonious
lout
we'll not forget the badness
of the devastation's
clout
hard hitting was their mission
in demolishing our
grout
Oct 31, 2017
Oct 31, 2017 at 7:37 PM UTC
Berry, Fruity-Delicious, Skittles, rainbow, water-fall...
Berry, Fruity-Delicious, got them at the Mall
Sixteen year old ba-by, saw her walkin' past
Toss 'em in my mouth -chuck, the best things never last!
When you're eating candy you know you understand
fruity under-cover...
Skittles lead the way!
Berry, Fruity-Delicious, fill your mouth and hands
Got me a new girl-friend, Skittles made me the Man!
Keep me in a daydream, keep me goin' strong
From loneliness you saved me, happy is my song.
When you're eating candy you know you understand
fruity under-cover...
Skittles lead the way!
yeah yeah
Very fruity-delicious...
Sep 1, 2017
Sep 1, 2017 at 11:21 AM UTC
In the month of July during whirlpool
A Legacy was born to challenge a fool
Who in sphere of market did money drool.
As all feast and dance and sing in yule
Many people like Vipul, Maulik and Sanket rule
Over minds of customers who remain very cool
In our D-Mart which served as a perfect tool,
Come and join the ever-widening D-Mart Whirlpool.
All - cashier, attendants, owners, sweepers - pull
Praise, sympathy, good words and have globule.
There are many wicked, old, shrewd ghoul
Who conspire against you O! D-Mart, My soul!
ACs, clean floor, smiling faces and nature cool ;
Bhaiya, didi, managers, workers, watchmen Spool
Are the real source of income than other tool,
Come and join the ever-widening D-Mart whirlpool.
Future is bright of D-Mart with such module,
It also includes good products, service Gruel.
No judge can verdict anything like rice overrule
Or China food item never finds in its pool;
Clean and healthy food items, fine variety gul
And great discount on many items that ridicule
Those who conspire despise it for its fame and tool,
Come and join the ever-winding D-Mart whirlpool.
Aug 31, 2017
Aug 31, 2017 at 8:57 AM UTC
Outside one of Pittsburgh's many suburban malls
a middle-aged woman wearing a colorful hijab
held the hand of a little boy of about eight
as they walked past the entrance of a department store.
Three teenage boys leaned against a nearby wall.
One teenager wore a printed t-shirt of a confederate flag.
All three of the teenagers pointed at the woman.
They laughed with a roar of contempt
that exerted dominance over the sidewalk.
The little boy hugged that woman's leg.
He sobbed into the material of her long dress.
The teenager wrapped in the confederate flag,
he put his hands behind his head
and leaned back against the wall
in victory.
Jul 25, 2017
Jul 25, 2017 at 3:33 PM UTC
I literally can’t go to the mall
Without doing my homework first.
And I literally can’t take my money
Without carrying a purse.
I literally can’t text my friends
Without having my parents see.
I literally can’t leave the house
Without having my annoying brother with me.
I literally can’t do this and that.
I literally can’t own a cat.
There are literally so many things I want to do,
But I LITERALLY can’t do those, too.
Mar 7, 2017
Mar 7, 2017 at 11:01 AM UTC
worn-out marble floors
hard against black high heels
gleaming in a fifty shades of grey
under the heavy strip lights
rows and rows of cheap clothes
expensive junk for poor fools
contaminated handrails
a shocking blur of different colors
bloodshot eyes screaming
everywhere red lipstick and lace
attracting young women
smells overlaying each other
advertisements and hushed words
surrounded by general noise
pillars crumbling under pressure
faked smiles and aching feet
tired escalators
elevators that have given up
a raging headache
'exit' sign shining green
Oct 8, 2016
Oct 8, 2016 at 2:27 AM UTC
I'M A SHOPPING CENTER SANTA CLAUS
FOR THREE WEEKS EVERY YEAR
IT PAYS MY RENT AND BUYS ME FOOD
AND BUYS A CASE OF BEER
I NEVER REALLY LIKED IT
'TILL ONE DAY TWO YEARS BACK
WHEN ONE SMALL CHILD ASKED ME
JUST HOW I FILLED MY SACK
I THOUGHT A BIT AND TOLD THE WAIF
THAT MAGIC FILLED IT UP
HER EYES GREW WIDE AS SAUCERS
JUST WAITING FOR A CUP
I TOLD HER HOW MY ELVES
MADE THE TOYS FOR ME TO GIVE
TO TAKE AROUND THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD
WHERE ALL THE CHILDREN LIVE
SHE ASKED ME THEN WHY DID I NOT
FULFILL HER WISH LAST YEAR
I NOTICED THEN, HER EYES WELLED UP
AND I KNOW I SAW A TEAR
SHE SAID THAT HER POOR MOTHER
HAD LEFT AND RUN AWAY
SHE PACKED HER BAGS A YEAR AGO
AND LEFT ON CHRISTMAS DAY
SHE DIDN'T LEAVE ME ANY GIFTS
SHE SAID IN HER SMALL VOICE
SHE ONLY LEFT A LETTER SAYING
SHE HAD NOT OTHER CHOICE
SHE ASKED THAT WITH MY MAGIC
I MAKE HER WISH COME TRUE
I'D SAID I'D TRY TO DO IT
I WOULD SEE WHAT I COULD DO
I WIPED MY NOSE AND DRIED MY TEARS
AND PUT THE SMALL GIRL DOWN
SHE TURNED TO LEAVE AND WALK AWAY
HER COAT WAS CHOCOLATE BROWN
IT WAS A FEW DAYS LATER
THAT SHE CAME BACK TO MY CHAIR
HER EYES WERE BRIGHT AND SPARKLING
AND SHE WORE RIBBONS IN HER HAIR
THANK YOU SANTA FOR WHAT YOU'VE DONE
THERE'S SOMEONE YOU SHOULD MEET
THIS IS MY MUM, SHE'S COME BACK HOME
SHE'S MY EARLY CHRISTMAS TREAT
YOUR MAGIC WORKED A MIRACLE
YOU MADE MY WISH COME TRUE
NOW I BELIEVE IN SANTA CLAUS
AND THE EASTER BUNNY TOO!
I DID NOT TRY TO FIND HER MUM
TO LIE WOULD NOT BE FAIR
BUT WHEN I LEFT THE MALL THAT NIGHT
I SAID A LITTLE PRAYER
I PRAYED TO GOD THAT SHE WOULD FIND
HER MOTHER BACK IN HER LIFE
AND THAT THIS SMALL, YOUNG CHILD
WOULD BE FREE FROM ANY STRIFE
I KNOW THAT IT'S A PIPE DREAM
LIKE WISHING ON A STAR
BUT I WISHED ON ONE A FEW YEARS BACK
AND SOMEONE HEARD ME FROM AFAR
I'M A SHOPPING CENTER SANTA CLAUS
FOR A WEEK OR MAYBE TWO
BUT LITTLE GIRL, WHEREVER YOU ARE
I STILL BELIEVE IN YOU.
Jun 1, 2012
Jun 1, 2012 at 9:01 PM UTC