Minstrel

the placement of notes on the page
the incontrovertible clarity of it
for this the composers suffered

not to alter one line
though they were shunned for it
birds in eternal migrations

ahead of the great snows.
does anyone know them
who knows of them.

do they know themselves
apart from the burden they carry
so few seem to want or need.

the amber burden of song.
trees wept for it.
now it must be guarded

and the flame endure.
how will they carry it
inside of them

without being singed

mary angela douglas 31 december 2017