Crossing the Road

(Poem #2)
Crossing the Road

We had not been there long,
My brother, sister, and I
But we quickly found out
That it was a strange land.

The temperatures soared
Into the triple digits daily
As we roamed the markets.
Cairo spoke to us.

Speakers called for prayer
And the men would bow
Facing the lands of Mecca
Holier than their own.

Locals vied for us
To spend our cash
For we were American
A sort of royalty.

But we walked on
Our eyes caught a glimpse
Of a sparkling jewel
Or an odd delicacy.

Our foreheads beaded
With drops of sweat
Our feet black from the dirt
That rose every time we stepped.

Commotion filled the streets
Taxi drivers speeding and
Honking instead of stopping.
Excitement, not fear filled me.

My eyes darted
Trying to soak it in.
A culture so unique
A place so foreign

Rotting oranges on the shelves
Somehow when juiced
Made a tasty treat
We sipped as we walked on

Past towering minarets
Camels and goats
To the street corner
Peering toward a five-lane road.

Our glances caught each other’s
And we wondered out loud
If it were even possible
To get across the street alive

Busses passed by
Inches from our faces
And my earlier excitement
Was replaced with fear

The crowd around us waited
For their chance to
Make a run to the other side
To whatever was waiting

We wore the fear on our faces
And our clothes gave it away
So a man that knew the trick
Offered us a simple tip

He said,
“Just close your eyes,
Pray to Allah, And Go.”