New Treasures as well as Old Have you seen my house my little house? From it I draw treasures to share generous gifts given by saints & sages held out open-palmed glimmering like precious metal & given to me of all people for safe keeping To show you I'll open a book & turn the pages Look at the illumination outlined in pure gold by an unknown monk in a cold scriptorium during an age of self-denial More shines from the page than the hurried will ever perceive I hold a ruby up to the light for you to see for you to receive if you're so inclined It cost me nothing everything Take it with you On this tree-lined street this little house houses treasures where marauders would never think to look See this pearl? The diver who retrieved it lost his life & a merchant sold all he had to get it Since then it's slipped through so many fingers despite its great worth In this glass case such wise beauty from across the years reposes & over here tokens of what the broken have sculpted in midair Do you question the measure of all you bring since it’s not earned you a living? From this little house I draw treasures to share You are welcome to all that's here We are not diminished by the giving
D.S. Martin is Poet-in-Residence at McMaster Divinity College. Angelicus (2021) is now available from Wipf & Stock― a poetry collection written from the point of view of angels. Visit his blog Kingdom Poets and his website.
Amethyst Review 