The Madness of Black Friday

Enter Black Friday with items to buy;
people come out of the woodwork to shop.
Madness is seen in the blink of an eye.

(Thanksgiving eyes the madness; long
lines opening early.  Newspaper
heavy—strains morning delivery.)

Out the backdoor with a hasty goodbye;
there is no time for a courtesy stop.
Enter Black Friday with items to buy.

(Commercialism, crowd noise
elbows and money.  Bargains
draw mobs like moths to
the flame.  Chatter, gifts
eyed as hungry for mammon.)

Volume of traffic exceedingly high;
bumper-to-bumper, no room for a cop.
Madness is seen in the blink of an eye.

(Congestion, lack of oxygen
running season’s obstacle
course…)

...stores publish ads because they are not shy;
paper in waste—it is over the top!
Enter Black Friday with items to buy...

(…special station for gift wrapping,
long tubes of clear plastic.
Santa’s lap to wide-eyed kids
as cameras click, or smart
phones mute.)

Bumping, sidestepping and elbows that fly;
singular mindset of shop till you drop.
Madness is seen in the blink of an eye.

(Push, shove, a manic dash
as doors unlatch to ravenous
spenders awaiting battle,
while Thanksgiving bows
in acquiescence.)

Mayhem of this shopping day brings a sigh;
it is pressure point ready to pop.
Enter Black Friday with items to buy;
madness is seen in the blink of an eye.


40 Lines
(Villanelle/Free Verse)
Writer’s Cramp Co-Winner
11-29-19