the Monrovia
market women
they are something-o
foreday in the morning
the pepperbirds
dog
goats and
chickens
chase them
out of bed and
send them running
like red ants
on nettles
they grab old buckets
run to hydrants
ch-u-u-u-u-u
and duck in
foul enclosures
smelling with pee
throw cold water
on they
back
belly
and between they legs
and all
they snatch
young crying babies
tie them smugly
on they back
in they mouth
to hush them up
then rush by
foot
bus or taxi
to the arteries
pumping life
into the markets
of Monrovia
they rush to
buying depots
Tubman Bridge
Doola
Belema (for Mesu fish)
Juakpebli
And Oldest Kongotown
to stop the
trucks and pickups
full of zoba bags of
cassavas
potatoes
plawa sauce leaves and
dry meat like:
wild bush goat
boaconstrictor
elephant skin
nyangaboy
and other fuyu fuyu
these women must have strong backs
and legs and hands to push and fight
and hold on to their market money
wrapped in a belt of country cloth
which they tie around the waist
but wait now the fun begins in
market stalls where chattering
and palavering (like a colony of rice birds)
and dollar notes and coins commence
passing like confusion through
a hundred thousand fingers
come good friend
buy my part me
I go dash you
goes on endlessly till dusk
This is one of Bai T. Moore's most famous poems, and for good reason. The detailed sensory description of these women's day-to-day struggle invites readers to take part in their lives.
ReplyDeleteInterestingly, the structure of the poem resembles a grocery list, rattling off the different items one would find at the Monrovia market. Yet, it also resembles the trail these women take to and from the market, and their relentless march onward throughout the day. The poem begins at the break of day, and ends at dusk. The lack of punctuation adds to this sense of pushing onward, as well as brings to the poem to life. The native items used in the poem, and found at the market clearly roots the poem in a specific place. Therefore, this poem is very much a tribute to these women, and to such a magical and vibrant city.
He's my mentor!
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