I Met A Minor Thief Of Words

I met a minor thief of words
stuffing the darkness with red hearts
little angel cut outs from

old magazines
or, what have you.
what have you not

he will not take
in broad daylight even
from the stationery drawer

the King's own seal
a few foreign stamps
thinking that rifling through

the files is allowed.keeping
the end in site well it's all right.
no it is not I said to the court of Heaven:

is not, have not, want not

the thief of words
on these premises
or any other.

mary angela douglas 29 january 2016