Kingston 1984
The open market
Tinned roofs
Tables filled with baskets and straw hats
Rings, bracelets, and necklaces
Paintings, wood sculptures, and braided ropes
Voices all around calling
Lady! Mon! We got what you want.
Step in here, cool off by the fan
We whisper to each other
Let’s look at all the booths
When we go around again we can you know
We will pick out what we want
We ignore the calls and move on nodding
Booth three, booth six, booth ten
Behind us there are suddenly horns and drums
Turning we see the boys, eight, nine, ten years old
Wearing their scouting uniforms and kerchiefs
Blaring a brassy tune
We smile and move on
Still nodding
Booth fifteen
Voices calling to us
We nod
Lady from booth one calls out
Don’t bother with them
They don’t speak English
We leave and then laugh
Love Jamaica
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