Wednesday, April 25, 2007

What Have They Done With

[in memory of my grandfather, Milton B. Young]


what have they done with
my fairytale alphabet,
chasing down events?



I still believe in your
letters of gold cherished

in secret, guarded in times of war


your bursts of transcendent

light, your roses your
redemption


under your wings your

sorrow I have rested
in modern times


your blue shining skies

replaced for me by
nothing, my cloud, my dream


I will never be banished from

the realm of speaking
and living in you,


oh, my language of stars


mary angela douglas 29 january 1999