Queueing Up

Mega corporations and the small entrepreneur

Ultra-mega-superchain 

Devourer of the mom and pop. 

Small businesses fold 

Bowing into obscurity 

At your mere presence. 

Cut the prices down too cheap. 

We succumb to the lure of implied frugality 

Unknowingly killing small enterprises 

And entrepreneurial dreams. 

 We queue now 

Our little plastic friend in hand 

 Looking into the blank eyes 

Of the check-out clerk 

Once the feisty proprietor 

Of the butcher shop at the corner.

Author's Note

How to kill small enterprises...

Reviews

[Belle]

Thus, it speaks of an analysis of social relations, and sadly what to find in this truth is the darker side of reality.

You may want to listen to this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hI3T_D8TCUk

[Rachelle]

What a coincidence to have relatives talk about the same thing... Bamboo Manalac's mom and mine are cousins....

[DIVYA]

Wow! This write is so realistic and touching. It touches upon the cruelty with which the big gobble up the small in the retail sector. The impersonal supermarket chain replaces the friendly mom n pop store and how we miss it. Bravo Rachelle! Much enjoyed!

[Rachelle]

Thank you, Divya!

[DIVYA]

You are welcome Rachelle!

[SquinklaPsyOps]

You’ve given the reader lots to ponder on how to improve their life.

[Rachelle]

Thank you!

[Baby Ricochet]

http://www.writerscafe.org/writing/deltacowolf/1165706/

Good poem. Here's one I wrote along the same theme

[Rachelle]

Thank you, sir!

[Raj]

very nice one. I am surprised by the topic you have chosen to write a poem on.

[Rachelle]

I know a little bit about commerce, maybe. Check out "Of Bulls and Bears".

[Raj]

all right.

[David Moreland]

There, you said it Rachelle. Need I say more? I am always a trifle worried when I go off on a tangent like I did. Not of being misunderstood, but understood. Glad to see we both agree; and you expressed it so eloquently.

[Rachelle]

Thank you, sir!

[David Scott]

You understand well.
We are killing small business in this country with tax laws, political lobbies, and unfair trade laws...
This topic is a sore in the soul of the US economy.
We let big business get away with anything and then give away out resources in entitlement programs on the opposite side of the spectrum.
It is all part of the same issue. Big money and big government in control and keeping as many as possible dependent on them.
A family that has built something and owns a stake in their business is powerful and hard to manipulate.
Bit oh boy have you opened up a box of worms.

[Rachelle]

That's just business. What about professionals? Pretty soon they'll have the medical professions up in Walmart. I see optometrists already. CVC has nurse-practitioners. What's next? Dentists? Instant workups in the corner Walgreens? The human touch is lost to the mega-conglomerate takeover.

[David Scott]

It has been happening for over twenty years already. The PPO's and HMO's already took over medicine. It is an illusion that professional businesses are independent.

[Rachelle]

Makes me glad my brothers are not practicing in the U.S. but it has been increasingly difficult for professionals and small businesses to establish themselves in my country, too.

[Rachelle]

Borrow money. Go to college, graduate, get taxed to support the people on welfare while you're paying off your debts. Vicious cycle, I am discovering.

[Beccy]

You describe a scenario that is achingly familiar. I grew up in a small village, which has now been swallowed into the sprawl of a town that was once a bus ride away. We had a butcher, a bakery, (bread so fresh it melted in the mouth,) and several other small, friendly shops, all of which are now long gone.

Beccy

[Rachelle]

It seems to be the same phenomenon across all borders, I believe, with the little people paying the price.

[don't know]

this is the down side to capitalism and consumerism as has been said before bigger cheaper. The small scale businesses suffer.enjoyed the poem and its good to see your passionate about saving small business.

[Rachelle]

Thank you!