Poetry

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Market Day

Today is Tuesday; it is market day in Ng'iya.
With the dawn voices of market goers babble and prattle outside my kitchen window.
A parade of goats, cows, and donkeys begin their march along the red dirt road to the market place.
The clang of the school gong calls children to learn, and sound of children's voices sing praise to GOD.
There is music in the air and excitement flits about shooing away hardships and disaster.

Tuesday is market day in Ng'iya.
I watch as a constant stream of men lead their farm animals to be slaughtered and sold.
Bicycles are pushed up the hill laden with sacks of charcoal, sheets of wood and stacks of egg flats.
Beautiful women don hats of baskets filled with exotic species of fruit.
They all bounce and slide along the path like a string of bright colored beads.

Today is Tuesday; it is market day in Ng'iya.
The path to the Health Clinic over flows with women and their swaddled babies,
Infants carefully tied in brightly colored shawls to their backs.
In the waiting area tiny bodies in various stages of undress are weighed and re-wrapped.
Wails and screams escape from the dimly lighted room where vaccinations are given.

Tuesday is market day in Ng'iya.
Mommies chatter as they nurse their babies before continuing on their way
Infants are wrapped and draped across momma's back then gently secured in a blanket,
Babies drift back into peaceful slumber, rocked by the rhythm of their mothers’ gait.
Above umbrellas bob open to protect from both the blazing noon sun.

Today is Tuesday; it is market day in Ng'iya.
The last client at the health clinic, collects the chicken she had tied to a bench in the waiting area,
She slings her baby under her left arm, the chicken under her right one, and lightly steps out on the path,
Sure footed she avoids the stones and ruts in the path as walks back to her village.
It is time to return to her home, set her house right and prepare the chicken for dinner.

Tuesday is market day in Ng'iya
A nurse materializes from the immunization room and declares we are out of syringes and needles,
The accountant announces that he has used all of the child immunization and weight records,
Doctari emerges from her office with a sigh and a smile, knowing today’s mission is complete.
Exhausted, and we all shuffle to our homes, and await next Tuesday, Market day in Ng'iya

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