Jake's Flea Market

i wrote leopold a letter

the bishopric of passau is black
trimmed with corded scarlet
with scarlet buttons fastened

i asked that he abandon it

asked that he wear instead
the archduchy of austria 

golden silk with scarlet
and silver threads embroidered

with sleeves   and a codpiece prominent

your plan to go to antwerp

to sit and listen 
to nora play on her recorder

to watch her sew a silk gown

instead leopold prepares 
to leave on pilgrimage from passau
to a palace on the banks of the scheldt

though he becomes
gluttonous and fattened to sweating
with stains of melted swine dripped
on the brocade at his breast

i expect nora to entertain him

i asked that he do this for you
to convert from bishop to husband

the letter’s folded   locked   sealed   sent