Market

At the Farmers’ Market on the Fourth of July

By way of preparation, I breakfast on ice cream

and strap a small American flag on a plastic stick

to the handlebars of my bike with a band of Velcro:

I will be cycling to the farmers’ market on the Fourth of July,

dressed for the occasion in a red-and-white T-shirt

over bright blue yoga shorts, accessorized with

the inevitable bandana. We had rain yesterday,

and today hasn’t heated up too much when I start out

at eight-thirty; it’s not a long ride—through Turner Park

and the Kendall-Whittier neighborhood, then south

on St. Louis—badly in need of repair, my pavement-

pounded joints inform me—to avoid the traffic

on Utica and Peoria. When I cross under the expressway

and pass the cone-hatted musician always stationed

just outside the barriers, playing unfamiliar tunes,

I know I have arrived at my destination—the popular

Saturday-morning market in the middle of a street

in the middle of a city in the middle of America,

the Cherry Street (it’s really Fifteenth) Farmers’ Market

in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Parking the bike, detaching the basket,

and exchanging my helmet for a patriotic baseball cap,

I slip into the crowd, taking, as usual, a stroll through

the length of the market, assessing the options,

vegetable and human, before I commit myself to any

purchases, not above, I admit, snapping the occasional

cell-photo of a hot, or just interesting-looking, guy

who might turn up in a poem later, because, hey,

everyone in town is here: the young parents with babies

in strollers or trussed up on the backs of dads

or against the breasts of moms; the families with a kid

and a half; the serious cyclists in tight shorts and tank tops;

the gay boys in their flip-flops and espadrilles;

the women in their floral maxi-dresses; the muscle-men

all pumped up in their flag-adorned T-shirts;

the glittery women of a certain age; the blond-haired

hippie couple, the chic in beads and braids, the handsome

dude bearded and barefoot; the elderly lady

in a sun-hat, walking with a cane and drinking hot coffee

despite the now-blazing sun; the thirty-somethings

with their yoga mats; the dignified middle-aged

Asian woman above-it-all elegant in a long striped

sheath; the preppy kids in big sunglasses;

and the stars of the show—the dogs sniffing everything

out and soaking up the fawning attention of strangers.

And the crowd mills and swarms and circles,

ogling the displays of produce and flowers spread

enticingly under bright white canopies:

the blackberries that will sell out so quickly,

the juicy red tomatoes of every size and variety,

the rich yellow squash, the leafy green carrot tops

hanging from bags and baskets, the purple flowers

at the stall near the west end. And the overheated,

young and old, cooling off with an icy probiotic

pop-on-a-stick from Jared’s ice chest.

And so it’s done: I’ve seen the sights, spent

my money, filled my basket, greeted a few friends,

swum the channel of flag-adorned garments,

dodging prams and skateboards. I linger for a moment,

not quite ready to leave the spectacle behind, but

then I finish my popsicle, lick my sticky fingers, drain

the last bit of water from my cup and toss it in the

trash barrel. I re-attach the now-packed basket,

hang my cap from the handlebars, buckle up my

helmet, unchain the bike, and I’m off,

homeward bound, independently alone

on another Independence Day.

Copyright 2015

T. Allen Culpepper

Vendor

Vendor at the farmers’ market,

grey tee, shorts, and trainers,

shirt light, shorts darker.

Fedora, grey as well from a distance,

turns out to be a mini-check

in black and white. Taking

a break, he’s strolling around

with a bottle of orange soda

on a hot afternoon,

looking restless.

 

Copyright 2013

T. Allen Culpepper

Coffee House on Saturday

At the Coffee House on Cherry Street,

adjacent to the weekly farmers’ market,

Saturday morning bustles with a lively,

energetic crowd breakfasting

or getting their start-up caffeine buzz,

one diligent student type already

camped out with laptop and pile of books.

 

The layout of the place rather odd,

the vibe hippy crossed with Italian,

ponytailed cashier, shout-outs

from the barista working the espresso machine,

Tuscan scenes painted on one wall,

otherwise slightly rustic-looking decor,

but with modern leather seating.

 

Noisy right now, a lot of commotion,

but everyone’s laidback, agreeable,

enjoying the weekend atmosphere–

and the iced coffee’s not bad at all.

 

Copyright 2013

T. Allen Culpepper

Starts with an O

The name was something related to “ocean,”

but the front man mumbled and I didn’t quite catch it,

a band of kids set up on a patch

of scruffy grass to administer a dose

 

of music at the farmers’ market—

two guitars, keyboard, drum kit.

Not bad at all, chill music for

a sultry evening in the park.

 

The singer’s hot, with perfect look

for summer gig: tie-dye tank,

orange cotton shorts, barefoot,

bright yellow band around his ankle

 

drawing attention to sun-tanned feet,

sexy when to a pedal lifted.

He says he’s sweating in the heat,

but he’s at ease as well as gifted.

 

Drummer’s cute too, with light-brown skin,

well-dressed dreads, a laidback mood;

a second-guitarist, long-haired, big-shoed,

and keyboard player, adding fills in.

 

They make a talented ensemble,

and though the crowd this evening’s small,

this gig is only a preamble;

with time they’ll be playing concert halls.

 

Copyright 2013

T. Allen Culpepper