Shopping Centre Breath


Breathe deep,
Ten minutes is the limit
holding out against
all that in-bought
poison atmosphere.
It is enemy element, so
dive, pierce it hard and
fast (this not-water is thick);
swim the gasps of palm-oil,
past glinting credit sheen,
in its slow-liquid glass wall.
Quick! Cross the tile polish,
the brass-bright coinage trim,
bypass paper discount traps,
sexy pictured sea-leg tangles,
fluorescent eye-caught specials,
the ear-leading ambient display
All buy-ability, eat-ability!
remember, you are in a
shark aquarium run by sharks!
Till, at the news-stand, just
get your paper. It could get wet !
Hurry, swim back
Outside. To the air!

28 August 2003 © Wayne David Knoll
Croydon, Victoria