Irony Behind the Glitter
Yusuf Achmad
Spaces that were once narrow, now open wide,
Gloomy colors replaced by bright lights.
Pictures that once stood tall, now wilt,
Red Japanese clothes, glowing like embers in the hearth.
Clothing becomes visual delight,
Female shop assistants from distant lands.
Hawkers no longer speak,
Only writings and pictures talk.
In that corner, furry and honeyed books,
Piled with meat, pages savory like dorayaki.
Past memories eroded by new luxury,
In a silent visual feast, we drown and sink into the night.
Surabaya, 27-5-2024
