Station Break For The Guardian Angels

maybe you didn't see us
spectacularly by your side
in the iffy classrooms

but we were there
pulling answers out of the air
or catching you at Christmas, on the church stairs

so that you never fell
though you know you should have
and paused for a moment

trying to figure out, why not?
why didn't it happen.
your shoelace forever untied

we never tired of making miracles
out of that.
and it was us in summer

swirling the rainbows in the
watercolor glass each time
you dipped your brush

and when you swallowed the Mercury dime
it had to be us in the crystal windchimes
recommending with the doctor:

cheese. cheese is the remedy.
and when you scuffed your knee
there was a baby wind, remember?

cooling for every scratch while
at each latched door
we whispered

that's not the golden one
be on your way,
child of clay

marked with an inward fire
you're in your latter day and still aspire
we like you for that

and we're still here
adjusting the rose on your sunhat
knocking fear out of the park

and with our sparkly sparklers
dished up strawberry ice creams,
secretly and silverly

cataloguing your dreams.

mary angela douglas 23 june 2018