Who Wouldn't Have Wanted

who wouldn't have wanted
the valentine with the bluebirds
hoisting the pink satin ribbon

over the girl with pink flounced skirts
carrying her basket of roses, wearing
as well a festooned shawl

and she is a rose, the chief rose
on the valentine
with her picture hat

and one rose there
near the brim
and the light is crystal clear around her

there where there is no weeping
but a sunny lane
a small house

with slate blue shutters
and it's early morning's
faint pinkness in the skies,
no cloud of war.

mary angela douglas 29 september 2018