BUDDY SYSTEM

"Travel in pairs," our guide had said.

I went with Louie.

We waited patiently for each other at shops,
            bargaining for snakeskin belts, waterpipes,
            gilded papyrus paintings,
           silver and turquoise jewelry for my daughters,
            and skimpy red silk harem pants
he wanted for his girl at home.

As a shopman wrapped my treasures up in flimsy tissue,
I turned and saw Louie arguing with a man in the street,
            with much hand waving, head shaking, and stamping of his feet.
Then Louie gave a wicked grin, shook his head,
            turned his back, and came to meet me.

"What were you bargaining for?" I asked.

"For you!" he said. "That guy liked your ass.
I got him up to 3,500 camels!"

Table of Contents

SYZYGY

A Poetry Chapbook
by
Honora Finkelstein

© 1997

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