to grow up knowing how to arrange flowers
in the foyer of the universe
to finish the census of the stars before daybreak
to carry in one small purse of red velvet
a single amber coin
the toll to fairy land
to wear on either hand
separate emeralds
then
to play emerald music
on the baby grand, both hands together
came the Grandmother's command
this was rather dreamed
than planned
to catch the lace of the lilac train
in one hand
resembling Spring
to pose that way without pretense
yet knowing how the one ray
fell across your shoulder, with you
in the landscape,
forever looking back
and lingering in the snow lights
remembering the highlights
of a poetic education
and the carousel sunset's blur
of the summers that passed
without saying a word.
mary angela douglas 30 september 2017
in the foyer of the universe
to finish the census of the stars before daybreak
to carry in one small purse of red velvet
a single amber coin
the toll to fairy land
to wear on either hand
separate emeralds
then
to play emerald music
on the baby grand, both hands together
came the Grandmother's command
this was rather dreamed
than planned
to catch the lace of the lilac train
in one hand
resembling Spring
to pose that way without pretense
yet knowing how the one ray
fell across your shoulder, with you
in the landscape,
forever looking back
and lingering in the snow lights
remembering the highlights
of a poetic education
and the carousel sunset's blur
of the summers that passed
without saying a word.
mary angela douglas 30 september 2017
