Friday Market

On Fridays we would walk beneath
vaulted and high domed ceilings,
the smell of fish and cigarettes
mingling with the salty tang of tar
that stained more than the
whitest of stark enamel tiles.

Outside in the fresh air the raucous
screeches from gulls assaulted ears
as circling crazily they watched
old pallets precariously unloaded.

I never liked the smell of guts
splayed out on wooden boards
and sharp cleavers that removed
the heads with bulging eyes as
men in white coats trailed gore
as cheerfully they joked and
teased wide eyed little girls.

It was always cool inside as stall
after stall sold its ice encased wares.
Buckets of moules, oysters and shrimp,
coral speckled plaice and whelks
which oozed soapy liquid and slid
in futile, frustrating non escape.

Gentile ladies forgetting manners
haggled with hairy bare armed
fisher folk who smiled laconically
behind yellow acrid smoke, their
stumps of teeth eroded like the shores.

Fishing tackle, bait and offboard motors
were curious contraptions to behold
as sticky fingers longed to touch
the many coloured flies from rods.

Once outside our marketing done,
strong sun would beat our limbs as
the covered wicker basket rocked
gently between us as we strode,
sea shanties on our lips and tongue;
Set sail, we are homeward bound.




Poetry by Elle The PoetBay support member heart!
Read 736 times
Written on 2014-03-02 at 12:33

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shells
You have taken me back to "The French Halles" in Guernsey, a very pleasant journey. I too love your description of the teeth.
2014-03-04



This is precious! We have a market just like that here. We have to be there by 5 am to get the best deals and the freshest fish, but I do hate the smells! I could smell the fresh meat and fish as I read. You can make words come alive!
Ashe
2014-03-03


Chaucer Whethers The PoetBay support member heart!
'stumps of teeth eroded like the shores'

No corporate dental for such salty dogs it appears
But when one has chewed Life to the rind it is the soul
that creates a smile :-)
2014-03-02


Purple Phoenix
We never had markets such as this in my home town despite it being based on the fishing industry. Reading this however, I feel and smell the air, and see all as if I were there...
Once again your imagery is so skillful I feel as if I am watching a short film, or I'm walking through it!

Another brilliant write Elle. x
2014-03-02