The Emperor Dreams Of Tailors

to you it may seem hard
measuring out invisible cloth by the yard
I don't know.

the Emperor will wait
for lavish cloth no one can underrate
figured in stars or gold medallions

in silk, moire but never
the fabric of the day to day
the colours of the sun

when resting on the sun dial
or by angels spun
and in the looking glass

he's sure so sure
of cherry buttons
bound on fast

and even the slippers match
in which he treads
the light fantastic

or the halls of dread.

mary angela douglas 14 september 2017