Jah Know Jabow

For Lowell Jarvis

I know the man
I know his name
I know his warming smile
I asked myself just bout 6 hours ago
What has become of him, and is he in pain
I know the man
I know his name
I know his steely grin
I asked myself months ago “what the ‘badwud’ is this”
When I saw the name
On the request form with the surgical specimen
To the pathology lab it came
I know the man
I know his name
I know his Grammar School
And so I don’t think he will mind
If I quote a line
Or two
Do you?
From A Grammarian’s Funeral
By Robert Browning
“Our low life was the level’s and the night’s;
He’s for the morning”
I know the man
I know his name

(Dr. Lester Simon)