with the corner of her blue-green apron
she dabbed away the tinman's tears
how dreadful to be left alone
for years she cried
and no one come to
take you home.
the tinman slept, he dreamt
of tin stars meshing in the Heavens
and a kingdom gauzy as
Christmas lights where little children
played for him on little tin whistles
and asked him, when he cried
for joy?
"What makes your Heart so shiny?"
mary angela douglas 10-11 february 2010
