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Could
I help you? yes certainly
The
waitress taking my order questioningly repeats my every
word
As
if what I've said is totally absurd or I have wax in my
throat
Cappuccinos
with synthetic froth
High
heeled ladies in brightly coloured frocks
Department
store bags bearing names more important
than
their contents are
Image
is expensive here, lack of detrimental
This
social clime is so ordered nearly regimental
Like
little plastic soldiers running from the sun
Dwelling
in glass caves where the latest fashions are hung
To
some this must be impressive
at
least to the gullible and naive
To
me it's all a bit too obsessive all this glitter and this
sheen
You
can sell anything here you can determine the norm
If
my looks were novel you'd probably find me hanging in a
store
This
waitress is ever so obliging perhaps she wants a tip
she's
an attractive lady but I wonder if she knows
I
can see her slip?
Everything
is random, selective yet lacking choice
This
waitress has a European arrogance in her voice
Well,
behind me two ladies conversing
One
says making money perhaps that's not what it's all about
I'm
surprised her question exists it's not even worth the
doubt
Sometimes I can imagine the rules and the schools
which
brought them here
It's
the difference between the spoiled and the impoverished
who
could never afford to buy from the school canteen
some
had uniforms pressed, starched almost tailored
one
set for every day
some
wore mix and match and their clothes
did
not grow with they
Every
store has a sale Fifty percent off the
one
hundred percent marked up price
I
swear you could sell an apple
convincing
them it was a vanilla slice
Nothing
is free everything is exclusive
until
you see someone dressed the same as you
We
all need acceptance this is true
but
fishing with bait called pretence
catches
only fish that are out to bite you
out
to bite you
©
Michael Azzopardi
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