the light flashes red.
traffic stops.
the intersection transforms.

they come.  they converge
on waiting cars.
people selling all manner of things.
leather goods,
toilet paper, razor blades,
chew sticks, groundnuts,
newspapers, magazines,
handkerchiefs,
baby clothes ...

they come.
beggars on twisted limbs
with probing eyes.
blind men guided by grim faced
sad eyed children.
children.
refugee women, wandering, babies
carried in their arms, babies
tied to their backs, babies
held up before open
car windows.
they search each car for soft eyes
to look into ...

the light flashes green.
traffic resumes,
the people wait,
work,
they market day in Port Harcourt.

           Nigeria