Each morning in Mexico, wherever you are, you are greeted by the sounds of the vendors of the day driving by in the street. Gas trucks, knife sharpeners, fruit and vegetable vendors––all have their own distinctive music to call us out of our houses to buy their wares.  Since my bedroom window opens on the street, I’ve had a unique opportunity to have their lilting ditties engraved upon my memory so I find myself humming them to myself throughout the day––whether diving into a wave, chewing an enchilada or listening to a friend read a poem in writers’ group.  Nowhere am I safe from repetitive memory and the need to duplicate their music unless I’m listening to a different tune blasted from the woofers of a passing muffer-less car or by a local band at Palapa Joe’s.  Perhaps this is why we all flock there–our final escape from the gassy melodies of our mornings.

Below is my commemorative poem to all this hot gas.  Today, as if in complicity with my need to get photos, they passed a total of five times!  I didn’t explain why I was standing in my nightgown in the middle of the street to snap their pictures.  Let them be a bit disturbed by me for a change!!!

Morning Serenade

Each time I hear the gas truck pass,
“Zeta, Zeta, Zeta Gas”
gets stuck anew right in my ear
where it will remain, I fear––
the soundtrack to my whole long day.
It simply will not pass away
until their competition passes–
with the more simple song of gasses––
“Guhassssssssssssssss” they croon, much more direct.
I almost want to genuflect
at this daily processional
and enter their confessional
to admit I’ve gone electric,
so no more I’ll hear the click
when I choose to be a turner,
flipping on my stovetop burner.
Now the coil will heat with ease
unaffected by each breeze.
No more am I the slave of gas–
with need to purchase it en masse.
Yet still each morn as they pass by,
I feel the need to run and hie
their passing with a friendly wave
and when they do not pass, I crave
the lilting message of their passing.
My day just won’t start without “guhasssssssssssssing”!

(Click on first photo to enlarge and see captions. Click arrows to move through gallery and press the X at the upper left to come back to this page.)

Is their music indelibly pressed into your memory?

Do you find yourself humming, “Zeta, Zeta, Zeta Gas!” all day long?

Do not worry if you miss their first pass-by.

They’ll be back!!!

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