I Thought They Had Stolen The Skies

I thought they had stolen the skies from me
dear Lord the way I stood at the window
and dreamed into them:

they had taken this and signed off on it
in the galleries or the sunlight on the green leaf
as I loved it, as it crumbled away.

this is mine, they say but I know it isn't.
I remember feeling that way
and telling no one,

the feelings that well up in me
at beauty's wells. somehow they ferret out;

they sell without compunction
and the plagarism astounds
as if they had torn a page from my soul

on a calendar I had marked in gold
with the very day circled-
and made a reputation for themselves.

mary angela douglas 28 april 2016