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Regency Mall, 1986 (Free verse) by jessicazee
After your dad drops us off
by Boston Store in the van
you write all the lyrics you know
to that Ratt song on my jeans in permanent
marker, âRound and round,
what comes around goes around,
I tell you whyâ and my mom will
be so mad, those pants cost
thirty dollars at Ups âN Downs
on the east end of Regency Mall
near Aladdinâs Castle but a hike away
from Orange Julius, Hot Sam, Kay-Bee Toys.
The central fountain across
from Wick ân Sticks flows warm
water, tossed coins, quarters of wishes,
the Original Cookie Company smells
good, the kids in charge make jokes
about the scared fiancees kitty-corner
buying diamonds, gold chains by the inch
at the open-air jeweler next to Sears,
close enough to Wilsonâs Leather to touch
wallets, pants, purses of tanned hide,
one skylight shines on Chick-Fil-A,
the waffle fries in everyoneâs mouths,
Ice Dream in Styrofoam cups,
chicken on toothpicks, your Swatch
watch stops, we miss the bus, tuck
our pants legs into our high-top Converse,
wait for it to come again.
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