Jake's Flea Market

for Sarah

and we lay down in almost heaven

and we lay down on the grass the long
lush grass of europe

moved our legs left
leg like this to the left   right
leg like this to the right and
moved them back again

swung
our arms from our sides like this
up over our heads and 
moved them back again

we lay down in the shapes of angels

and heaven passed over us

and the clouds the silver
spinning of the clouds passed over us

and i searched 
the glittering sky for a city of gold

and though i never did see
the city of the saints rising from a cloud

mama always said the new
jerusalem was built up
there in the infinite above us

and i believed

i believed labourer angels had opened the treasuries of paradise
had laid down a radiant street without beginning a radiant street without end
had laid down bars of gold end to end to make the street long
side by side to make the street wide

and then i died

i died hung crucified among mama’s hero saints
i died a martyr in the mouths of catacomb cats
i died spectacular and the legions of romans in the coliseum cheered
i died every death that brought tears to mama’s eyes 
as she read her history of the church books  

and as the sun spun gold off the gilded doorway where i stood
shaking the gold dust off my sandals

mama called my name

mama called me to life again

and we lay down in almost heaven

and heaven passed over us
‘til the stars and the streetlamps along the celestial avenues
came twinkling on