-a theoretical world-

from a storefront doorway

the sign to passersby reads: "We're OPEN"

street-side, the plate-glass window

displays selections of its inventory. 

the street is busy with activity 

and gatherers of belongings are just getting started.

people greet one another

presenting kittens from their hands,

presenting images of accomplished work

and images of the accomplished work of others;
some who are living, others who are dead.

curbside, a jovial old man introduces

two small dogs in tutus dancing on their hind legs

to the music of an accordion amusing the children.

artists, poem-writers, bloggers, diarists

and sports fans; idle gossipers, digital self-

portrait aficionados and lonely hearts

fly through the arena's atmosphere like ping-pong balls 

sprung from a field of mousetraps.

the variety store carries news of the plaintiff's accusations,

of noteworthy adjudications, certain character indictments 

and exposés of the populated interiors;

it carries news of the evening's visible planets

masquerading light, advancing the proposition that false-

faces will often intrigue us.

on the local front, the latest report

tells of the 24 inch Schwinn's mid-morning

crack-up on the avenue near the cemetery.

it's assumed that this is the cherry-

red beauty that has weight and occupies space.

two old-timers are standing at the storefront's window;

one is inside looking outward, the other is outside

looking inward.