Shop 'Til You Haunt

Once a quiet country road,
Has grown to a shopping mall.
Anything your heart desires,
Those stores have it all.

But, a small family plot,
Set next to pavement.
Stands by undisturbed,
 Where their 10 graves went.

They were all family members,
Of the Chevy Chase clan.
Some women and children,
And a couple of men.

Early, 1800s circa,
Their small resting place.
One can only imagine,
The harsh lives that they faced.

But, stories are told.
Of a family undaunted.
In a nearby furniture store.
Maybe the family haunted?

There's aged 29, Adeline.
Sarah with no date.
Dearborn, aged 37.
 At 56, was William's fate.

The other remaining stones,
Names faded, go unread.
Set alongside the others,

In their small death beds.

Store employees report,
Lights on and off on their own.
And, a lamp on a table,
Smashed up from being thrown.

The store electric doors,
Opening suddenly.
I don't think I'd work there,
I'm just saying, just me.

But, I'd like to think,
A happy family, I do.
Are they perusing the stores?
Trying on pairs of shoes?

Or helping themselves,
To the restaurant food.
Maybe leaving a tip?
If they thought it tasted good?

But progress, is progress,
Even in death, so profound.
Is the Chase family happy?
Or not taking this lying down.