Jake's Flea Market

from denmark   hamlet brought   silver
speciedalers and cronin

and so he paid   to wear the black robe
and the recognition from the towns’ folk
that he was a student here

so he paid for admission
into these corridors of ignorance and revelation

admission to these classrooms
where both daydreams and fascinations were
brought to the table

for me he bought
memories of how he knelt
at his waking and at his bedtime prayers

memories of his voice when he sang hymns

but now   sure as i knelt beside his dying
he’s long forgotten what he paid
for a chair

for a place among the gathered
in the assembly hall

his understandings
of german   of latin
of philosophy   of theology

his ability to speak
in all these languages   to read

all these things he bought   he left   where

like all of us   occupants   temporary
his bed in the dormitory   was rented