I Like Icicle Music, Candy-Cane Cold

I like icicle music, candy-cane cold;
peppermint swirled ice cream: dream
of all pinks to be

and sugarplum lore, frozen oranges.
I like going out of doors
when the almost-snow sharp air

sparkles into you so that you know, you
want to sing in your knitted mittens
your old overcoat;your mouth like a cherry O,

Christ I adore...
but you are hushed,
waiting for evergreen angels

to appear
each time this year
half touching the straw

on the roof of the small nativity in the window
until wishing only this:
that the shepherds under the  Star

would blink to life and all within
to shine before you
Christmas past of all pasts:

and most of all-

that this,
would last.

mary angela douglas 20 november 2015