Whose Lacework Once Again

whose lacework once again is gathered forming

in the pewter skies erasing time making of trees

a freezing of light and the child heard "chimes"

but it was the ice storm "chimes" and not the toy

piano with the green and pink keys the orange the yellow

and she thought music was painted violet when it was the skies

and all the lacework coming down and the chimes of

angels and are they all golden? or only the pageant ones

and is it the thread of so much silver I must draw through

my indrawn breath believing fervently, yes this is

the kingdom of Christmas it is our Christmas I am

living through and even at school they give us

tiny presents, sticks of the candy cane and we sang

carols then and how soft is the haze around the coloured lights and the earth is fair;

the china baby on a warm mat of straw

the animals standing still for this, for this hushed loveliness

and the lacework, falling down

is all around my heart

and is it forever now, asked a child asleep

and in her grandmother's arms

mary angela douglas 24 september 2014