Goodbye, Shirley Temple In The Lollipop Ship Absconding

goodbye, Shirley Temple, in the lollipop ship absconding

(it may be) with the last elusive charms of childhood

oh goodbye I remember you best

grown up and hostess of the Fairy Tale Theatre

in gold and pink frothy gowns delineating

"this magic space" before my 8 year old eyes

(they had to be pink: I decoded the black and white)

the diplomat of faerie and

your storybook with its border of roses, birds,

and crowns on pages I lived in like a

secret house within a house. 

or in Heidi, happy at home with the Grandfather

singing and making your bed of straw already

golden, no need for spinning then.

or in sweet replica, my sister's doll in pink and blue organza

I threw one day in a fit and then repented

I was so untrue but true again God heard

me say: I love my sister truly and we

were colouring again the day in which

our living room tv zebra striped and then

working again would show (and we'd drop

everything)

Little Miss Marker, Now and Forever

forever, honour bright and later Bluebird bright,

many years after you acted your heart out

missing the ruby slippers by a mile

but stalwart.

what is art but the blending of lollipop colours

seen through the long ago at best? goodbye, Shirley

Temple, be at rest

amid many flowers

and my small bouquet

mary angela douglas 11 february 2014