the new town centre

it's a dead
night.
quiet on the streets.
of the boulevard
with freshly planted
trees. it's
littered
with strangers
in nice shoes,
lingering
on the corners
waiting for
the apple store to
open,
smoking E cigarettes.
brooding.
looking at
their phones and
you as if you
don't belong.
hometown is not
what it used
to be.
everything has
changed. everything
is new, but already
feels old.
you miss the smell.
not a stray dog
to be found.
all the dumpsters
hidden
somewhere behind
the façade
of progress
and money.
how you long to see
a rat
scurrying scared
at the sound
of footsteps
as you cross the street
towards a greasy
spoon,
not the gourmet
sub shop next to old
navy.