Shadowed mountains
trace uneven lines;
the golden sky
splits & tears–
jagged halves,
dark & light.
All around,
the lazy city
moves in twilight:
deliberate & unchanging,
an afternoon ritual.
The vegetable man
stands expectantly
awaiting passerby.
His gold tooth flashes,
cinnamon eyes crinkle
a fleeting smile.
He swims through
his tomatoes,
creamy avocados,
sweet bananas.
Weathered hands
deftly extract the best find.
Hand-to-hand passes
an avocado,
perfectly bruised
delicate, soft
in the afternoon warmth.
Overladen clouds
relieve
brilliant Amazon heat
the first tentative drops
threaten
humid heaviness
covering everything.
Footsteps patter, mirroring raindrops
pounding glistening pavement;
a girl in blue
twirls round and round
in the torrent,
a splash of color
amongst
silvery, cascading sheets.
She smiles,
looks up—
the drops slow,
sprinkling.
The vegetable man
peeks out
a crinkled grin,
hand raised:
a saludo.
The girl in blue
scampers by,
avocado in hand
dark braid swinging.
The perfumed breeze
bright flowers & woodsmoke
wafts by, melodious.
A chorus—
insects hum in reply,
serenading
evening stillness.
Calm resonates;
a fragile world
harmonious.
