People-watching at the Mall

No problem at all

need to kill some time

need to occupy my mind.

Muted music, somewhere a child screams

Living in a suburban nightmarish dream.

Escalators slink upwards, mocking nearby stairs

I drop my eyes, avoiding conjoining stares.

Midweek shopping is sparse and consumers few

the people here interesting and I enjoy the view.

Teenage girls wasting time after school,

Moms with their kids because it’s gotten to cold for the pool.

Lots of guys by themselves, where are their friends?

The women tend to be in groups, the men lonely and independent.

The stores themselves are gorgeous bright-filled boxes within grey walls;

but empty, people-less, devoid of what they’re for here stalled.

My mind wanters and I lose train-of-thought.

I get excited about something else, I’ve gotten caught up!

All because I’m writing on a napkin

in my lap in

the Mall.