FISH SELLER

Fish Seller

Monday morning
A-li! A-li! A-li!
whip snapping
fishseller...
climbing a
mountain
far from the
blue sea
below.

Ciceri - Ciceri - Ciceri
"All hot, all hot, red hot."
another vendor
struggles up the
mountains side...

American Nuts!
American Nuts!
shouts the loudest -
donkey sobbing
for air, blood streaked
lather,
a whip carved and
sliced flank...

On the mountain
top, from side to side
garlic, iron wares,
straw hats and aprons...

The last cart drawn
close at the top
of the mountain, with
cherries, slabs of ham,
fish and fish in
garlic oil...

The old woman,
directing a parade
wiped the donkeys
face with a white
cloth blessed by
an ancient saint...

so the animal could
climb the mountain
again on Tuesday.

Nancy Duci Denofio
all rights reserved