White Velvet

one wish left, the fairy tale breathed.

oh, to wear white velvet

perhaps, a full, full, skirt of it:

the bodice bright as snow

and opal beaded on the sleeves,

the cuffs only, the little collar.

to wear white velvet

and carefully, to carry the mists away,

the holly bouquet sprayed golden the day before

by my Grandfather.

patent slippers of the red red rose.

I want to wear white velvet, velvet velvet

to be clothed like moonlight

like the sugar snows

and fold on fold

luxuriant as light from a far star

to behold

with Christmas angels from the long ago-

kneeling on the silver ground

mary angela douglas 16 november 2014