In The Blankness Of Space A Blanker Star Shone Over

in the blankness of space a blanker star shone over

the red rose ruins of gardens uncomprehended

lilac and mint nasturtium tiger lily

shadows are plucked by fitful children

and the drone of State Words could

drown the sea but not

the sound of the sea-

remember the sound of the sea the silver

wash of non-propaganda on a diamond shore

this free

it's the sound of blue it's crystal

shed as from the beginning of

stars - taking a deep breath I say

American words will return

words will return fresh and daisy-chained unchained

to children no longer useful to

political machines

to the children in their own sweet clover

in the playhouses

with their speckled china

in the fields of Queen Anne's Lace

of Black-Eyed Susans

just being

or barefoot with their superpowered dogs

cavorting by summer-green rivers

sequined in the sun;

spelling the days in berry brambled

unstinted unsilent prayer like

quicksilver birdsong for just being

filtering through

the hackneyed stone-dead phrases

we won't ever grow used to or

ever call our own

disown disown

anything less than the pewter stars

still shining over the colonies

and the rapture of chosing as long as you live

the handcrafted words of honor the words as good as deeds

fight on from the rose red riotous arbors

the drones don't know to quell

rejoice

mary angela douglas 10 july 2010