To The Schoolmaster On A Windy Day

it will seem that you can go there
oh my friend
the castle lights are on

but there's no light within
how fresh you are and were
have ever been

on the fairy tale road
thinking everything will never end
that you have bread and cheese

and cherries, more than these
the day before you
the day before you

I implore you
who am no one
but a friend

don't stop at that inn
you'll be robbed blind
of all the gold in your mind

I could a tale unfold
said Shakespeare once
and always that's remained with me

a ghostly question lingering

why warnings go unheeded
not only in the fairy tales
and all seems golden

till the knight in dark mail approaches...
fire from the heavens and hail
and lightning strikes a tree

five centuries old
and you are old too now
who only meant to stay

with the fairies one whole day
and then depart
and now must live without a heart

come go with me the blue light sobbed
and you felt free to go
though something told you no

why shouldn't you
and Spring that was new then
now reigns the unconsoled.

mary angela douglas 9 january 2018