note: there's a tiny glossary at the end if you don't recognize the stores i'm yapping about.

luncheon surreal

(at the mall of america, bloomington minnesota)


1.

in /hot topic/
     urban blight is tastefully displayed

anarchy signs air-brushed
          to perfection on cotton-tees
fishnets with flirty holes ripped
                    just so

i fancy the /urban decay/ line
of cosmetics
     nail polish with names like
               gash
          bruise
          and
               plague

admiring one called
     asphyxiation
          i notice the overpowering smell
of the /cinnabon/
          just next door


2.

the indoor open-air patio
     at minnesota's /napa valley grille/
overlooks
          a /tall girl/ store

the house wine is vinegary
     but the gravlax with
capers and aioli
          is delicious

i'd like to stay but
     i can't afford another glass of
          bad cabernet


3.

a new shoe store called /jarman/
     carries faux wing-tip doc martens
          for 130 dollars

- it's expensive being a prole these days -
               is my only comment


4.

there's a blinking movie-style marquee
     outside the /old navy/ store

     but inside
          there's a supermarket theme

     shirts on polystyrene trays
shrink-wrapped
          in saran


5.

/victoria's secret/
     has red bordello-style curtains

headless and limbless mannequins
     model filmy
          bra n' panty sets

the sign in the window says:
- introducing angels -

          and the seraph behind the glass
          flexes her
               creamy wings

captured
     mid-writhe

in pretty rose-colored silk

the mall of america: the biggest mall ever built (unless some damn fool built a bigger one) located in bloomington minnesota, a suburb of the twin cities (minneapolis/saint paul)

hot topic: punk/goth/glam clothes and accessories

cinnabon: sells obscenely gooey cinnamon rolls

napa valley grille: "sunny cali(fornia)" themed restaurant

tall girl: clothes for tall girls!

jarman: trendy shoe store

old navy: hip gap-like clothing store

victoria's secret: "upscale" lingere

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