poetry in commotion...

i love the smell of commerce in the morning

I paid the paltry entrance fee and wandered into Canning Vale markets, which bustled with the noise of commerce in the morning.  It is capitalism at its finest - a group of people out to make a quick buck and another group of people out to find a bargain.  And like all successful trades, after quick haggling, each person walks away convinced they came out better off.  I imagined things hadn't changed much since markets first came into existence thousands of years before.  The same, shifty merchants, crappy cheap wares and the atmosphere of opportunism that is the hallmark of all successful markets.  It's also humanity at its most refreshingly honest - where greed is good and self interest is paramount.

SANTA SHOPS HERE a sign exclaimed in bold letters.  I hadn't realised Santa was such a fan of footy cards and rock and roll posters. "Hey man, nice sunnies", the erstwhile favoured merchant of St Nick said to me.  He was a sunburned wrinkled man on the wrong side of 50 with a brightly coloured bandanna and a faded denim vest, and had noticed my interest in his wares. "Thanks," I replied, waiting for the inevitable pitch. "You like the footy?" he enquired hopefully, his hand slighly twitching in the direction of the cards. "Sometimes".  He looked a little crestfallen. I threw him a bone.  "What sort of posters do you have?". He brightened a little.  "All the great bands mate, Metallica, Nirvana, The Ramones, you name it".  I gave him a shit eating grin as I asked him about Modest Mouse.  "Modest what?" he asked me. "American South West alt rock? Good News for People Who Love Bad News? Doesn't sound familiar?".  I hadn't expected him to. He showed me his poster collection, an exhibition of all the great rock and roll bands from the 70's to early 90's, with the curious and hilarious exception of one featuring Eminem and 50 Cent.  I momentarily flirted with the idea of getting a The Clash poster, but decided against it.  By then the vendor had found better luck with another guy purchasing a Magpies framed premiership photo.

Would I go again? Definitely. I had been there to get my PS2 modded, but something about the market attracted me.  Maybe that was what it was that brought those other people there too - the lure of a bargain, the thrill of haggling a price down, the chance to find something unique and rare, nuggets of gold amid the muck and mud of the cheap goods that surrounded it. Maybe it was the people there, the mingling of poor and rich, tired looking moms and snotty children rubbing shoulders with young couples and enterprising teenagers. Either way, as I walked out I noted the things to check out the next time I was there.  Perhaps next sunday?

posted by jaseypoo! @ 9:30 PM