The Elephant Man In The Grape Arbor Hides From Sorrow

there is a bruise in the sky

the small stars sing to

above the grape arbor

where the Elephant Man hides

from sorrow and his shadows

are purple too and not as lumpy

the tears caught in his throat

and the Elephant Man is riding

or he hopes to the silver horse

of his dreams and he is elegant

and flowing as the wind as the wind

through the grape arbor and the bruise in the

sky is not larger than his own and it is

widening like a purple stain on the universe

of sighs of negligence of misplaced laughter

little stars will encircle him by and by

the little stars will come

and leaven the leaven

for the Elephant Man in the grape arbor

hidden and unbidden except by God 

except by God

on earth as it is in Heaven 

mary angela douglas 10 march 2014