‘Faceless Nameless?’

 

 

Faceless         nameless        they hurry past,           eyes averted

 furtive glances,      eye candy?  but not for others?     for ourselves

 selective    faceless forms   each with a story,  a history,   a future?

 

‘Choo Choo’ – Thomas the Tank Engine ride – ‘did you press the button?’

 ‘what noise does the train make?’ ‘Choo Choo’ ‘Can anyone make the train noise

–        Choo Choo – Mirabella claps – ‘go get mum?’ ‘Want more?’ “ Hold on” ‘Make the noise the train makes

–        Choo Choo –      where’d you get the? from Tegan? – Choo Choo’ ‘Time to go’ ‘see you’ –

 

people hurrying by,      no eye contact,    eyes averted,  busy,  focused,     kids in trolleys checking out …stuff………..

older kids bouncing a ball against a glass wall      – waiting –              shops ….starting to put the shutters up

–        anger in the eyes           – no smiles –              affected laughter –         kids in school uniforms eating chips

–         finally…. a smile                  – of recognition –               for a loved-one –                then…..

–         

–        the dreaded uncontrollable shaking of Parkinson’s       – we avert our eyes –        we don’t want to get involved

–        ‘paging Mark Farmer to the customer service desk’ (K Mart) ……………….as Spendless closes up

–        last shoppers hurry past.        Vodaphone’s dead –                 as people accept the indignity of their bag check

–        sneakers squelch past –         lovers –             purple top black hair? Arms around waist………. saunter past –

–         

–        then Taya and her young mum’s beautiful eyes, met mine, and we spoke…..!!!! her of their recent trip to Egypt, Lebanon and Bali – of people who had little but were happy – who by contrast were helpful and friendly – their respect for their own culture –         not like here –      when asked here staff reply……. ‘if its not on the shelf then we don’t have any’

–        how ‘we don’t value our culture’   me ..’we have the burn bash and bury mentality’ –   ‘development’ at all costs…

–        ‘bulldoze the past – create a soulless future’ – a lovely young mum; thinking, caring, imagining, comparing; our future our past, our cultures – for Taya -  having a ride on Thomas the Tank Engine – as a young boy hopped on behind the chimney and rode it like a horse

 

 

© Rob Greenwood Redcliffe West Australia  27.7.2007 326 wds