Page Torn Out From A Holiday Catalogue

for Ray Bradbury, again!

the cherry popping phosphates of the day before
we'll sip again, rereading your stories,
twirling green leatherette stools in the

drugstores, expeditionary,
filled with summer light.
turn the page down and get some rest

my Grandmother softly said
but how could I rest with glories in my head
of the rainbow swirled the giant lollipop

summer signs looming on the highways.
here in the byways we never sleep
we only dream of slurping all the ice cream

flavors through a malted's straw
or of being chilled in the pink and green
of watermelon slices through and through

until this summer's buttery melting down
the blueberry pancakes breaks the fast
of too much school all this can't last

but be surpassed by the red and green parties
where we scheme

to be awake through Christmas
catching Old Santa at the sleigh
laughing the toffee hours away

breaking off icicles from God's best
winter prisms

mary angela douglas 30 july 2015