in Big Market
he sold song-birds
big burly black man
Rex Hardsure
passing by never failed
stall “Music of the Forest”
soon got to know him well
sit-down visits while he sold his wares
songs from such peculiar birds
one a golden parrot type
and one seemed a kiskadee
but was a vivid red
mostly they were forest green
small and nondescript
all sounded lovely-sad to me
“I know you—you can never buy
you think it is a cruel thing”
“true” I said and hit my heart
“but I love your work my friend”
“well think of that” he said