Thursday, May 29, 2014

She Curled Their Hair In Rags

[to my grandmother Lucy W. Young]

she curled their hair in rags;
then brushed it till it shone new penny bright.
she polished them like apples
and dressed them in sherbet colours
with moonbright petticoats stiff and starch
and sometimes,

sprayed on her cologne and pinched
fresh roses in their cheeks:
sweet maids, be good; angels can do no better;
then sent them out to play on the swing-set
in a backyard universe
with their curlicue friend,
the Dog.
while she taught music.

she wished them merry days,
these, her favorite poems...

mary angela douglas 29 may 2014

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