Tianguis*
When I strolled down to the market to buy a piece of fish,
I had no other shopping list. I had no further wish.
Except for some cilantro to stuff into its cavity,
I suffered from no other acquisitional depravity.
But on my way to aisles that simply dealt in fishes,
I stumbled upon vendors selling other tempting dishes.
I bought some chanterelles and then some green tomatoes,
some Michoacan peaches and fingerling potatoes.
I could not resist a table covered with such things
as necklaces and bracelets and pretty silver rings.
I tried on clogs and three-inch heels, then bought their matching purses.
I purchased four used mysteries and then a book of verses.
Baby diapers by the dozen, though I have no kids.
A set of second-hand cookery minus all their lids.
Thank God I found a shopping cart for sale just half way through
or how I would have managed, I have not the slightest clue.
I mounded up my bounty, then turned down the next aisle,
my eyes seeking out treasures, mile after mile.
So by the time I found the fish, my cart was out of room
unless I hung my salmon from the handle of the broom
that stuck way out in front of me like a chivalric lance
wedged in between my brand new Spanx and bras and underpants.
I bought two whole red salmon and suspended them out front,
then turned my shopping cart around to puff and pant and grunt
wheeling it uphill this time now that I had decided
that it was time to take my bounty to where I resided.
An hour later, out of breath, I’d slowed my former pace,
a small parade of alley cats preceding me in space.
Eying my bag of salmon, they leapt onto my cart.
I shooed them off my underwear. I fended off each dart.
I avoided their advances. I matched their yowls and hisses,
grabbed up the broom and battled those felines for my fishes.
While with the other hand I dialed animal control,
I fear my cart got out of hand and it commenced to roll
down the hill that I’d just climbed, shedding pans and Spanx
while cats made off with both my fish, not bothering with thanks.
The rest of all my bounty was lost in its descent.
I do not have a single clue where all my treasures went.
The broom, a silver ring and a new hat upon my head
were all I made it home with. The rest was forfeited.
The cart has a new owner who fills it full of cans.
My Spanx no doubt are holding in other chubby fans.
Those cats are lying somewhere, dozing and replete
from all that lovely salmon that I did not get to eat.
And I have learned my lesson. The next time I need fish
or any other foodstuffs to complete another dish,
I’ll simply dial the grocery store to have it all delivered.
When it comes to the tianguis, I’m freshly lily-livered!
*A tianguis is an open-air market or bazaar selling new and used goods as well as fresh produce, meat and fish that is traditionally held on certain market days in a town or city neighborhood in Mexico and Central America.
For the dVerse Poets prompt, “Market.”
Ha! Bravo! But I knew it was fiction with the first mention of fish.
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Ha. You know me so well.
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But, I don’t eat mushrooms or tomatoes either, you know. Further fictions.
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The poem is lovely, though I’m not as fond of Cilantro as seems common these days, but I totally adore the sandals!
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Cilantro is the only food mentioned in the poem that I actually like, ironically enough.
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I didn’t buy them. Good thing as I would have had to mourn their loss.
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Here, we call it tiangge, a temporary place set up to sell goods, be it veggies, dry goods and the likes.
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Where are you, Arlene?
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Philippines Judy 🙂
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Those Spanish got around, huh?
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Big influence to our country.
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And to my adopted one…
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Actually, the Spanish got it from the Mexicans as it is the Nahuatl word for market. This ancient language of Mexico predated the Spanish invasion.
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We have lots of Spanish words here that are now part of our Tagalog language.
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COOL!
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A priceless poem! 🙂
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Ha.. thanks, but actually she needed to pay!! ;o)
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Excellent photos and poem. The Portuguese got around too – they exported Mexican chillis to India and look where that led
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Really? Fascinating.
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I knew Diaz and DeGama cut a wide swath but it never occurred to me that India didn’t have chilis before that.
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The peril of market shopping 🙂
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Aha.. you recognize them…
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Flea markets in particular 🙂
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I love this poem so. Your rhyme and sense of fun are always a delight!
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Thanks, Victoria. Your comments are always an equal delight.
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This was a lot of fun!
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Thanks, Rivr…It was fun to write, too.
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Fun FUN take on the prompt! “A set of second-hand cookery minus all their lids.” Oh yes…..I’ve seen those at flea markets! 🙂
And I love the cats and the spanx….fun rhyming and tale you’ve told!
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Thanks, Lillian. It was fun to write.. and fun for me to see where it would end up. It was actually kind of a relief to get rid of all that stuff. Was beginning to wonder where I’d put it all!! (Yes, it was fiction…just still imagining.)
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It’s always tempting with bargains… but in the end if you lose it even a cent is to dire.
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The textures of Mexico. Thank you.
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You are very welcome. Thanks for visiting.
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Hi Judy! Very wonderful work! Honest expression shared openly. I am having an existential crisis tonight. I invite you to come visit me, cross my bridge of dreams, and listen to Joni sing like an angel!
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See my comment on your site, Rob.
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