Jake - art student extraordinary

A gifted draughtsman - when he drew,
though Primitive with paint.
Irreconcilable, these two:
a mystery to me.

A lack of confidence, perhaps - the lack
that drove him scavaging the bins
for anyone's rejected work.
Before his time, perhaps: recycling them!

I heard it said some twenty artists
gave him his degree,
but I am sure he would have scored
more highly on his own.

He played trombone with a small group,
his first love being jazz - but was prepared
to slum it on the odd occasion
with blasts of modern pop.

He wrote the most exquisite poems,
delicate and subtle, full of quiet joy -
and published Dirtier than God is -
privately - a porno magazine.

He gave amazing readings:
poems, mostly on his art -
and always took the art along
and flogged it at the door.

(Even when it was not his to sell.)