In Heaven

thinking on the things you lose
the shoe trees in the closet; your old overshoes.
the little things in the Christmas stockings

you would like to see again-
more than any metropolitan museum.
brazil nuts, candy canes, a rubber ball,

the odd unexpected

toy, the something more tucked out of sight;
the first refrains of the angels...
the roseate glow over all those scenes so tinsel bright

when Christmas was green and you were.

I want to go where the tick tock is new
and we look forward to leaving school
for two whole weeks and live at home

and not even in the summer. is there: such richness.
what a miracle it seems that
these things ever were

and I believe each one
no matter how far it's tucked under 
the Tree of Memory with it's

aluminum foil wrapped Star-

we will recognize again,
in Heaven.

mary angela douglas 29 november 2015