Apres Le Deluge And The Wounding Decree

the kings roses are in bloom

whose else could bloom

in winter snows and cast

a pink tinge on everything

even my old gown she sighed when

creeping round the edges

of the parchment multifoliate

the painted flowers cannot detract

from the decree

of wounding me.

I hide in the shade of smiles

I can't remember when

all this happened

still. and roses fade

but not the brier

roses fade and not the brier

she sang on one note only

till the last string broke.

and word of this floated

out of the Kingdom.

mary angela douglas 19 may 2015