Small Rehearsal For The Last Song Sung

the white rose blows in the wind
we're on
the jelly bean trail again

or blistering in the sun
near the clover fields
when twilight comes

and the dinner bell calls
or you're in your new dress
with nothing to confess

while everyone else
is doing sums
becoming what

you will become
so secretly
and petal by petal

the white rose blows
the soul
with a clean candy center

and God will gobble you up
the shadows say
one day one day one day

when we're past the swing set stage
or red is the rose red rage that fades
that fades that fades

with nothing left to say
when the curtains close
but I was there

on that small planet
oh, so long long ago

mary angela douglas 18 august 2017