food stamps

i am so drawn to those buildings downtown where the upper stories are either filled in with brick, boarded up, or rusted shut. a faded business sign is all that is left of what the building contained , and the first level sells cheap knock-offs of designer handbags. the long since out-of-business department stores which were once frequented by mostly rich white ladies have now become little beauty shops owned by asian families that sell wigs, oil sheen, and cocoa butter, and markets that sell fish and fried chicken. the "beautification" process that is currently happening leaves buildings stripped or cut in half, their skeletons exposed, with each layer of material showing like layers of the earth. most of their histories are demolished or forgotten. i ponder at the layers of people all running around amidst these giant brick ghosts, all busy making the city run. i drive by spectating at those at the bus stop, those walking to work, and those living in the doorways, and i wonder at the histories each one of them holds. i want to project images of the people on the vast darkness of the antiquated windows with painted over glass and missing panes.
today is wednesday and i tried to apply for food stamps but the office of social services and public health was closed.