The Sense Of Time Passing In The Fairy Tale

the way it made you feel when the Great Clock melted
into thin air
and your fine gown

they don't really tell
not even in footnotes in the Marvelous Editions
lilies and pumpkins embossed on the covers.

did you tell your children later on
"Time can only stretch so far;
be careful of it."

and they with their buttercup faces
could not understand
when life seemed long as their shadows

at noon.
and the big spoon full of icing was their reward.
centuries later

still reading about you
I think of Time too.
Cinderella, Ashputtel

fastening the dream clouds down
lest they blow away.

mary angela douglas 1 september 2017