The Princess Wearing Peach In The Long-Ago

[to Robert Browning (and Elizabeth too, if she likes)]

the princess wearing peach in the long-ago
picture stood up too abruptly in the boat of my dream
and had to swim back on her own.

wringing the frock out later for a state occasion in the afternoon
she stepped through the charming pier glass over faceted yet
unable to pay the rent

and found herself again at the Magic Table
where spinach ladled itself onto Sèvres
(the cartoon-Popeye kind)

and twinkies for dessert yum yum appeared
with strawberries and not just a soupcon of cream
fresh whipped, and thick as anything.

won’t you stay - precociously,
dream babies tugged her hem of pale blue lawn;
when they blew bubbles on their own

unnuanced in the lemony sunshine
she only smiled-
as if for an ancient portrait to be loved by countless

later on, tromping through Private Galleries
on their raveled way home-
in a gold dust wind from the most discerning corner of her eye,

noting the landlady, off in the distance

(never getting nearer)

mary angela douglas 27 september 2012