Little House

we will make a little house with tar paper walls
no chimney and a place to rest;
to rest and to read the things that we think best

they say no one is reading anymore.
and sometimes, it will be a stage, with a revolving door
and we will play all the great roles

going up and down the escalators
into the Perfume department
or the expensive furs;

practicing carefully how to turn around
in a ball gown, in a very small space;
how to curtsey after the matinee

and catch all the bouquets

and keep the pasteboard crown attached;
how to acknowledge the front row dignitaries

because it's certain

small birds will flock in the carport
for the ambience or the german chocolate crumbs
we leave in our gracious wake.

mary angela douglas 12 july 2016