Copious Weeping

["those were pearls that were his eyes..."]

- William Shakespeare

[to Isak Dinesen-
and especially to Mrs. Alma Harris, my speech teacher...]

the rubies falling down your face

were pearls

and now

they're emeralds

past flood-stage

drowned and

drowning the

remains of the

possible

dredging up the

every color of

the rose, of tigers

flecked beyond expected

topaz seen and

unseen

I see

-oh vast encyclical-

the veritable amethyst Beyond and

the lies told about those

discredited by lies further and further into doom

the formidable arras the kingdom of weeping

the quirks of the free in tragic situations

your arresting angels waiting for the next story

mary angela douglas 21 august 2010