why is history almost always
taught as the history of everything terrible
that ever happened to some or all of the people
that ever happened to some or all of the people
left on the shore
and the earthquake is coming
the years without reprieve
and the earthquake is coming
the years without reprieve
the innocent seized upon
the heart in need.
I long to learn
the heart in need.
I long to learn
the history of light
how ferns unfurled
the history of night
how ferns unfurled
the history of night
the bright emblematic
history of the stars
of fireflies in jars released
history of the stars
of fireflies in jars released
the history of peace
if only for one moment;
live, in that moment
if only for one moment;
live, in that moment
the history of summers
in the evening breeze
the shade of trees.
in the evening breeze
the shade of trees.
the rock where God abides.
why can't it be
no longer the history of lies but
the history of fortresses that worked.
no longer the history of lies but
the history of fortresses that worked.
at least for a while
the honeysuckle and the baby's smile
the truce established.
the honeysuckle and the baby's smile
the truce established.
the prayers till dawn.
the embellished stories
the sum of our hopes
the Christmases when we were home.
the sum of our hopes
the Christmases when we were home.
no more the barbarians at the door
the time of drought.
I want to find out
the time of drought.
I want to find out
how the heart was singing still
despite all evidence to the contrary
in undisclosed kingdoms; how did they feel
despite all evidence to the contrary
in undisclosed kingdoms; how did they feel
the beautiful and real who held the line.
and within the bells still yet to ring
the dream of Spring and other things
and within the bells still yet to ring
the dream of Spring and other things
why won't they tell us, that.
on all the pink and green maps.
on all the pink and green maps.
mary angela douglas 31 may 2018
