[to my grandparents, Milton and Lucy Young.]
children were taking the toys of forever with them
whispering on the stair
when the back door blew open
scent of roses filled the air
and we said we hate to leave you
we don't want to leave you at all.
then you turned your faces to the wall
not to show that you wept
and I watched your violet shadows stilled
on a pale green wall.
the gardenias in small glass vases
I remember the most
the summer clover
seen at the last.
the wind through the familiar pines
our green guardians.
our green guardians.
mary angela douglas 1 february 2018
children were taking the toys of forever with them
whispering on the stair
when the back door blew open
scent of roses filled the air
and we said we hate to leave you
we don't want to leave you at all.
then you turned your faces to the wall
not to show that you wept
and I watched your violet shadows stilled
on a pale green wall.
the gardenias in small glass vases
I remember the most
the summer clover
seen at the last.
the wind through the familiar pines
our green guardians.
our green guardians.
mary angela douglas 1 february 2018
