Umbrella man

They used to peddle umbrellas for
Five dollars, maybe 3, hawking them 
Whenever it rained. Their tones insistent, 
A steady sales pitch of repetitions, Calling out the product they knew we Needed. You know you forgot it at home.
Umbrella... umbrella in the mellifluous 
Timbre of the African diaspora. We have
Umbrellas. Singing out faster, then 
Slurring the sound.They would say it Again, and again, umbrella, as if the words were part of the patter of the falling rain. "Umbrella. Umb-rella. Um-brellas. Five dollah. Who needs an umbrella today?" On a rainy day, this afternoon, Who doesn't need one. A small
Dark umbrella for three or five.