In A Summer Dress The Colour Of Butter

in a summer dress the colour of butter,
in a melting dream
I was going to look for the passages between dream and dusk

in a summer gown the colour of butter;
with a folded fan, the colour of jam.
but they said, you have different homework to do

and here's the workbook of the midnight sums,
your sewing basket in green and white wicker.
why is it that the things we want to look for

most of all slip off the lists
and can't fit through the turnstiles?
and there's a rush of wings but

we're always on the opposite corner
missing the angel bus and noting it down for next time.
but there I was in the passages between dusk and dream

and I didn't even know
how I got there!

mary angela douglas 17 december 2015