The Way You Are Today

who painted the roses red

said something in my head

we used to know this

now all we remember is

who gave the orders

just like in the newspapers

came another voice

a tea party kind of voice

a little soothing sugarwise

and nervous with a limon edge

no that's the tarts! came a tarter voice

than they and it wasn't strawberries.

cherries perhaps? a Duchess queried

milder than before and Alice

looked down at a pinker pinafore

than she remembered having worn

the last time

the picnic was by the river

the river the river of dreams, it gleamed

the voice, the voice  in her head that would not behave

tomorrow we're whitewashing red roses instead

we knew we'd get to them one day

and splended so splendid

packed in a hamper with the little oyster sandwiches

with the crusts removed

the rose gold napkin rings is everything

I'm not going to tell you yet

but when you find out

you won't be you

the way you are today

mary angela douglas 2 april 2016