I Saw Clouds Like Words And They Were Filled With Light

I saw words like clouds and they were filled with light
with rains with jeweled wings but oh they are floating
away and who will retrieve them.

so it is with a lost language when its continent goes under.
under the beaded waves with the mermaid countenances-
all that seaweed hair

and the pearled combs.
and if my eyes are detached from seeing
and if my heart is misaligned

it is because it is the cause the cause my soul:
these symbols have drowned in the tides;
the rose reign's images reined in.

mary angela douglas 23 november 2015