The Five & Dime,
where parakeets are for sale
and Coke’s are served at the counter
with a warm sandwich or a
bowl of soup. There’s
costume jewelry reflecting a
morning sun on busy shoppers
carrying paper bags roaming the aisles
looking for scarfs and socks
where a dollar buys a dream and
pennies have worth, while florescent
lights buzz and candy wrappers shine
with promise for hungry smiles
wishing for a quarter and a song
of summer coming soon just beyond
the front door where black and white
televisions are advertised for
tomorrows big sale.