Happy 4th: In appreciation of our country

THE SEBASTOPOL FARMER’S MARKET

I loved the market today
The way the little girl
Crawled around
On her belly
In the fountain
While I ate
Hard boiled
Duck eggs
Atop
Shredded
Lamb
On top
Of
Mole sauce
And the newborn
Sitting next to me
On her daddy’s chest
Was a wrap in a
Blanket
To ward
Off a chill

And the way the
Deformed peaches
Tasted
And the African queen
Selling her shea butter
Amidst
Dreadlocks and drums
And the ten year old kid
Amidst the bongos
Amidst his father
Playing guitar
Amidst His father
Singing
And the little boy
Banging and
Chewing his gum
And not missing
A lick of beat
As his smiles
And eyes drifted
Off to the side
And a young teen girl
Doing cartwheels
And hoops around
Her middle
And the woman from
The Middle East
With amber and jewels
And turquoise
And silver crosses.

Then there’s the couple sitting by my
Side from the
Big city talking
About how their
Eating here was
So ecological
So sustainable
So retainable
Replaced later by
A walking couple
who remarked on why
the flags?
And I said
“It’s June.
There’s flags.
It must be flag
Day.
And isn’t it nice
I’m starting to
Like the flag again.”
And they agreed and said,
“ We’re starting to like our country again.”

My community ‘tis of thee
“Sweet land of liberty”
And pastries and salmon
And strawberry ices
And baskets and flowers
And tied dyed
Saris – all for
Reasonable
Prices out
In the open
Air
Folks
Shuffling,
To and fro,
With colors
Sublime
Mauve
And puce
And saffron
And lime and
Tastes
Shuffling,
Fro and to,
And scents
“And the living
Is easy.”