I take a deep breath
and a million scents
waft towards my open face:
Freshly baked breads,
savory meats,
light fragrant flowers,
sharply perfumed spices,
sweet kettle corn.
Colors whirl around me,
an oasis in the middle
of dark grey offices.
Vibrant reds, pulsing indigo,
radiant yellows, verdant emerald.
Tinkling charms
and trinkets
reach my ears,
hoarse voices calling out prices
and offers
with the upbeat guitar
and drums
to complete the melody.
Soft fabrics run through my palm
like a river through a valley.
A cold pendant rests
on my chest,
sending shivers up my spine
and down to my toes.
Young children splash
in the center of a fountain
crying out with adolescent joy.
I close my eyes,
and soak up all the motion
swirling around me,
lost in the beauty
of the marketplace.
