amusement arcade

flashing light assaults the eye
in this garish neon
captivity

amidst the eccentric electronic roar
dropped coins
synthesised war

witness amongst the cigarette smog
silent on the ashtray floor
of a
dirty
dark
tuesday lunch time

pale faced youths
  that blend absurd
in sullen masks of nonchalance

too bored to hate
  just dead stares
  transfixed to receive but not to share
frantic fingers displacing dreams


saddened I head to the exit
only to find myself
turning back

drawn toward that flashing phrase
inviting me with neon deceit

two words
one hopelessly misplaced