12

I remember that subterranean fairy tale
how even as a child I loved
the secret places, their any excuse to be...

the sudden opening in the trees
pure branches closing over you
or rose lidded, the unit on music.

was it the Kingdom of Dream
that opened in the twilight castle
dimly lit

each shadow blue violet
and a staircase appears
and the quarter moon.

is it a tune I remembered
the slippered sound
like snow

of 12 fairy princesses
stealing down
into the starlit underground

was it a depth of dreams revealed
that gave that tale mysterious appeal
or the thought of the only one clue

the slippers worn clear through
I didn't know then
I don't know now

the tale of 12
the perfection of it
the mysterious taking place

on deeper balconies of grace
and turrets disappearing into space,
under multi tinted clouds

and everything for the Dance, stage set
as though they were ordained for it.

mary angela douglas 3 march 2018