the inner city

back streets george town penang

By Dagonite on Flickr

Chasing tourists’ dollars
The government intends to do
Listening to its beautiful songs
Ringing in the till

Heritage by certificate
A mark to sell the state
The tourists will come
What old buildings to tell?

The inner city tenants
The small traders and craftsmen
All will be disappeared
Leaving the inner city
Stripping it off her soul

The decay in the inner city
Change hands the property owners
Turning it into tourists’ spots
Bringing in the wealth

Heritage by certificate
The tourists will come in bus loads
Believing to see ancient charms
Only the facades
The inner souls the modern antiques

The charms of old
It has gone in memory
In printed stamps and postcards
Drawings and photographs

The inner city
The soul is sold
To tourists’ dollars
And the ringing bell