An abandoned storefront
sits sadly on the main street of a small town.
The spread of chain stores
has robbed America of individuality.
Box stores beat out neighborhood merchants
leaving the country impoverished of creativity and courage.
A skyscraper does not have the heart
of a weathered storefront
even though it stretches high as a passing cloud.
Better to shop a store with three aisles
for sourdough bread and periwinkle bedsheets
than to feed the corporate coffer.