Poem: "The Niche Market"

[ysabetwordsmith]

This is the second freebie for the October 1, 2024 Poetry Fishbowl and new prompter dannydevidaloca. It was inspired by a prompt from see_also_friend. It also fills the "Seafood Month" square in my 10-1-24 card for the Fall Fest Bingo. This poem belongs to the series Quixotic Ideas.


"The Niche Market"

[October 2024]

Everything that you
could possibly want
to eat -- and more than
a few things you wouldn't --
may be found in the stalls
of the Niche Market.

There are fresh brains
for the capelobo and
other head-hunters.

The sushi stand carries
kappamaki with cucumber
or liver for the kappas.

Fishmongers put out
seafood for various kinds
of fish-people and lizard-folk
and cat-creatures to eat.

There's even an aisle
for exotic pets, where
jenglot keepers can buy
all kinds of blood and
tokoloshe keepers
can find curdled milk.

It's a way of welcoming
those with unusual needs,
so that everyone who
wants to live in the city
can fill their shopping list.

* * *

Notes:

The Capelobo is a vampiric creature from Brazilian mythology. The name combines two words: "Cape" from a Amerindian word meaning "Broken Bone," and the Portuguese "Lobo," meaning Wolf.

A kappa is a Japanese river-creature, said to adore livers and cucumbers.

A jenglot is a creature from Indonesian mythology that resembles a tiny, living human doll. Keepers feed them on blood, usually animal blood.

The Tokoloshe is a small creature from Zulu mythology, resembling a primate. It loves curdled milk.