Jake's Flea Market

the clock’s hands had climbed
to the top of my time piece

barefoot silent we’d stepped 
up the spiral stairs to the top of the rampart

marcellus looked out over the parapet   

all i saw was how dark it was   

oh and i saw him listen 

all i heard
was how the night walked 
silent like it wore ox skinned soles    

oh and i heard him sniff 

all i smelled was the previous evening’s rain
and damp oakwood

he watched
for the moonless one o’clock 
dark to be extinguished

for the out of time 
specter of a grieved king 
hamlet to be ignited

i watched for nothing to happen