some days I think of swans
the way Hans Andersen did
on the glass lake in front of
the castle and the tin soldier
helpless without water
gazing without water
in the thirst of his soul
and the dancer there
with her bit of tinsel
he mistook for a heart.
some days I think of
swans, the wilder version
living out their spell
and from the height of vast cloud
countries he can tell you
how it looks down below them
and it makes you dizzy.
how did he get this from books
the way of telling
so that you could feel
it was you there in the clouds
you yourself there circling and circling
looking for the place to land.
or still, on the glass waters
with the other actors
playing the scene
or like the mermaid
only a gleam
upon the waters.
this gleam is your love-
you are gone, then.
mary angela douglas 23 october 2015
the way Hans Andersen did
on the glass lake in front of
the castle and the tin soldier
helpless without water
gazing without water
in the thirst of his soul
and the dancer there
with her bit of tinsel
he mistook for a heart.
some days I think of
swans, the wilder version
living out their spell
and from the height of vast cloud
countries he can tell you
how it looks down below them
and it makes you dizzy.
how did he get this from books
the way of telling
so that you could feel
it was you there in the clouds
you yourself there circling and circling
looking for the place to land.
or still, on the glass waters
with the other actors
playing the scene
or like the mermaid
only a gleam
upon the waters.
this gleam is your love-
you are gone, then.
mary angela douglas 23 october 2015
