Jake's Flea Market

before nora’s father gives
that proposal along   walk
to a poor tenant who plows
an acre of his lord’s domain

to purchase the village horse   offer
to sell a month’s wage for an apprentice

he’ll sell you a swayback

and to purchase a cart with two wheels
offer to sell a month’s wage for a housemaid

he’ll sell you the time it takes to build it

plod the horse south by west
it’ll bring you to her