The Mystique has been Lost

The mystique has been lost—

paper print-outs replace

the palpable ticket of card complete with a shiny seal,

now scanned lazily and discarded,

the mystique has been lost.

The mystique has been lost—

seen through a plethora

of phone screens capturing the same pixelated images,

to share to more indifferent, unseeing eyes,

the mystique has been lost.

The mystique has been lost—

a predetermined set

readily available to be previewed on the Internet,

playing only the most $ucce$$ful hits,

the mystique has been lost.

The mystique has been lost—

and through the sea

of vexatious tropes from a diluted, stagnating scene

that the Internet age has brought

the mystique has been lost.

The mystique has been lost—

and yet the music has not.