The Photojournalism Archive

Investors and dignitaries watch the Mount Rainier front entrance to the SuperMall in Auburn, Washington erupt with fireworks. Five years earlier this was a working farm.

Mock Mountain

The manmade joke erupts into a playful

man-size, papier-mâché, chicken-wire volcano

     spewing glittering lava, not enough to defy

the punch line and bury the audience

     In its avalanche of laughter.

No need to panic. No need to turn and run.

     The sky remains clear except

for the fuming fireworks.

     It’s such a dull comedy,

loudspeaker static, capitalist slipstick.

     The guests keep

their jackets on silk ties knotted

     around their moneyed revelry

that pick-pockets our poorer desires.

     Pompeii not out of the question.