Open for Business

We traveled the roads today,
Windows down,
Breeze barreling through,
Fumes rising,
Horns honking.
No stop signs or traffic lights,
Only the occasional traffic cop.
The bigger vehicle wins every showdown.
People lining every avenue in brightly colored garb--
School children in their uniforms,
Street vendors selling everything
From jugs of gasoline
To bottled water
(And I use that term loosely).
People jammed in "tap-taps"(taxis)
Named Merci Jesus (Thank you, Jesus)
And "Victoire (Victory) in Christ".
The Anges de Ciel (Angels of Heaven)
Funeral Parlor opened its doors at 10:00.
People were in line for lottery tickets
At the Pere Eternale (Eternal Father) Depot
And for bread at the
Blood of Jesus Boulangerie (bakery).
The Dix (Ten) Commandments Dry Cleaner
And the Volonte de Dieu (Will of God) Dry Cleaner
Were vying for customers,
While others made their way into
Izi Cutz (Easy Cuts) Barbershop.

Everything was open for business
In Port-au-Prince today.