Heaven's Words Flowed Downward

heaven's words flowed downward

I saw the crumbling of an

ancien régime

this was my heart.

heaven's words flowed sideways

like the raindrops' beading on the

car windows.

I saw the green-ribboned

the tree-lined highways

pass away

and the roadside attractions

comprising a nation.

somehow-

invisible kingdoms kept

appearing

and words of fresh-wrought flame

though so many will say

shaking their heads like

Job's best friends at my

inscrutable path at the

shining holes in my shoes

"this is dark dark dark"

(you know how it is)

I saw the phoenix in every fire:

this was also my heart

this was also my heart

mary angela douglas 23 july 2009

First Dedication

you are the ground under my feet

if the ground trembles

you are my ravine

if the ravine crumbles

you are my sea

if the sea dissolves

you are my sky

if the sky falters

you are my star

if the star bursts

you are my Heaven.

these are the words

exactly in their places.

there are no other versions;

the poem cannot write itself:

You are

mary angela douglas 8 july 2009