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Wildwood // Shelley Wong

There are lingering signs of the retro heyday on this New Jersey jetty
       Still a doo-wop resort town among these block condos
       It's Roman Holiday, Isle of Capri against the sky
                    The names burst forth with zippy shooting stars
                    A sign for every letter blinks
                                        neon neon neon

The off-peak visitor inspects the property and finds the palm fronds missing from the trunks
         This side and that side is the sea, the boardwalk, the sweets economy
                   Add "crest" to the name and the price goes up
                                       ditto to "heights" and "villa"

The strollers come to be part of the new revival
          The populace quadruples and wears the same outfit
          Motels curve around the evaporating pools
          Pancake houses flap and hot dog stands stack up
          The grease comes with the territory and
                     this seashore will last all season
                                       until it's time for the rerun