I usually guard my gaze in malls, public places
Where scenes, like scents, are too many to process
Here, in the pharmacy, my nose led me deeper
Bloodhoundingly, nauseatingly, closer to the rot

Until suddenly, there it was
Hiding in plain view
Corruption’s strength, source and sustenance
Greed!

A steady flow of people left
Exactly as they came
No intention to do anything!
Only stop, feeling, unpleasant
A thousand little white lies
Peddled by confident, complicit assistants

Sanitised, legalised, multi-lies
A drugged river of confusion
And muted, unheard suffering