Beautiful Dresses

they could be lilac with a pale green sash

with full skirts that swish , small capped sleeves

or pale pink, sugared with rosebuds embroidered

on the bodice, ribbon of satin, whisper of lace;

Easter easter blue, polished cotton oh brand new

and petticoats of eyelet snow

and slippers of strange pearl and you want to whirl

and whirl, you can't help yourself.

so thought a little girl at a Saturday window

in deep reverie.

these are the dresses I'll where everywhere

when I'm grown.
and who and what and how

who knows but I won't forget sheer

dresses of lawn, too, and branching taffetas of

cherry; the frothy gown of Cinderella

threaded in gold and with the moon the moon
caught shimmering through vast panels of cristal

or ballet tulle, pastels, depending on your mood

coasting over the difficult

or the arco irised she said in small Spanish

coinage of the vivid.

with jewels that do not match

because they don't have to!

they're sparkling!

she laughed only a slight ruffle

a dress like a valentine or old posies

in an album.

later on

much later.

she dreamed beyond

the boxy little jackets

when what you need is christmas velveteen

with tiny rhinestone buttons

not all this

dressed for success.

the job fairs giving the illusion

of carnival, merriment and all the rest:

still all all you want

is a beautiful dress.
cathedral bright

of lilies, of lilies
pale happiness.

mary angela douglas 4 march 2015