Shopping malls are wonderful metaphors

which grow like bacteria, or unwanted hair,

almost anywhere.

They’ve galleries of greeting cards, hosiers displaying shapely figures,
electronic gadgets obsolete in the West,
food joints serving pasta that taste
of rubber, bakers and confectioners display
mouthwatering cookies and chocolates
insuring medical insurance companies,
music stores compete hard for collections,
pharmacies selling prescription drugs
without any document. 

There are some, who grow like adverbs,
and some who have trainers,
and some who have nothing to eat.
There was a small market,
now replaced by a huge restroom,
where most of the shops sold
handicrafts, candles and lampshades.
They were unable to pay their taxes.
The Municipal Corporation generates
some revenue from the public toilet.
They charge 50 paisa for a piss.

Copyright ©2006, Debashish Haar