Where do they all go when they are not here?

Question

I saw two young girls, giggling,
Comparing carrots to I don't know what.
A man passes me in a hurry,
Lines of concentration on his brow,
Swirls of anxiety in his wake,
While a silver haired old lady
Peruses the wine labels, half smiling.
I wonder if she's planning a romantic dinner.
Two small children pass in a cloud of laughs,
Ignoring the cries of a harried mother
And hiding round the corner of the bread rolls.
Waiting breathlessly, wide eyed, grinning.
A pair of teenagers lounge studiously,
Studying the CD racks with one eye
And a couple of girls with the other,
Exuding nonchalance and pheremones.
People in shop uniforms bustle,
Filling shelves, sweeping, giving directions
With fixed grins, genuine grins, warm smiles,
An occasional grimace.
White, black, brown, yellow,
They're all here, and then gone again,
Replaced minute by minute.
Where do they come from?
Where do they go?
What do they do, think, want, dislike?
How many are saints, sinners, lunatics?
Are any of them aware of me? Each other?
Oh, my line is moving,
Got to go

jenny · Accepted Answer

Foggisan, You paint a moving picture delightfully, could feel the movement, as they say the pulse of the city. good one.

*Jellz* · Answer

I immediately thought of those moments on nature shows when they speed up the camera (time lapse photography?) and flowers grow quickly people rush along city streets, cars stop and go quickly. All the while we are the voyeurs. I like to sit on benches in malls and watch people go by and wonder what their stories are. Good write man!

neonman · Answer

Comparing carrots...that can go down a lane of thought! lol  An interesting look at a supermarket but to me perhaps too many characters.

Grannyjill · Answer

Saw other posting first (didn't notice it was in the wrong category)...you have revealed what I guessed - that this was forming in your head as a poem whilst actually in the supermarket...that's what gives it its freshness/reality.

giggling · Answer

As an avid people watcher, I enjoyed reading this.

(the silver haired old lady was probably REMEMBERING a romantic evening and recreating it, will curl up with a nice book after the dinner and memories...)

Nice write this!

- · Answer

Our observer is back, be it around town or shopping,
we count on your eyes to tell us.

PS The silver haired old lady was me...
the half smile is my secret!

ma

Anonymous · Answer

I like this a lot - but I got tripped up when you started the questions ... I don't know how it could be reworded.

? · Answer

They all go where we go at one time or the other
I like these lines and your questions.

Ronnie

Where do they all go when they are not here?

8 Answers