Nobody noticed the Withering,

that all-pervading shadow

perambulating the globe

in perfect anonymity.

All the people became stretched, thinner,

hollow shells full of envy

following those that ate life,

that peddled insecurity,

the crowds led to the familiar,

no fears, no innovation,

good ideas turned to dust

blown away to obscurity.

This was the Withering in action,

a flooding banality,

a wandering pall of grey

killing originality.