[for the poet Elinor Wylie (1885-1928)]
listening for the beginning of snows, white flowers, celesta-
I bowed my head far down
into the very velvet of God;
putting the jeweled sword back in the cupboard, carefully-
by the last of the fairytale cheese-
the plum-starred jam.
who knows what music held
for those who appear no longer;
wind the music box anyway
and don't despair,
your heart like a cloud
still does not drift
and it is a wonder
just to breathe the air
that later, snow will inhabit-
mary angela douglas 22 december 2011
