(From The Hymnal Of The Episcopal Church,
1982, Hymn 719, Verse 3, Line 3)
In the land of denial
latch key kids
pioneer malls
for frontiers
Graying grunts move out again,
unmoved by squashed gum,
through freshly spat landmines
on streaked linoleum
Trapped air
under glass domes
stinks of contempt,
mouths sour as stagnant mops
Half eaten cheeseburgers,
throwaway lives overflow
trash bins onto new prairies
seeded with litter
These shrunken centers of humanity,
strings of stores and eateries called malls,
open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
shield us from whims of nature,
America! America!
For god sakes