Saturday Morning Market

It’s not that the apples and pears
and peppers today
are bruised or broken.

Or that the radish is rotted
and the melons lay gashed open.

I pass the cabbage, leeks
and leafy lettuce by
not because they all hang
half-wilting and dry
(I’m chasing a glimmer in the corner of my eye).

There.
Behind the cucumber crate
and the celery stalks
glints the orange jasper gemstone
in a jewelry box.

Skillfully polished
cleaned packaged weighed
I hand him my coins
(an unequal trade).

Saturday begins
and the children play tag
while peaches mingle brightly
brightly in my bag.