Things Should Be Translated

things should be translated as if from far away
because all our goodbyes cannot be said in unison
because the moon breathes differently than earth

as it turns, and diminishes as though it may
have only one tear left, only one silver phase.
how can the moon understand the earth

it is impossible. still it must be said somewhere
there must be a language for this.
for this and the watercolor way Spring begins

the way children feel stepping from pastel to pastel
over the young stones in the creek behind their home
home that is a phase too.

silvery it will fade it's own planet with  the moon 
or seem to. it was always that way in dreams
who could ever translate then

how could the children fall down so hard
as to disappear from their own yards
oh who can say this.

who can write this down
in a script like the doctor gives in writing prescriptions.
the heart cannot bear this.

so we stow the ancient valentines.
we walk among the pines
and notice all at once

frost at the root of it all
and all our words going away.
not knowing how to say anything

that will stop the fading.

mary angela douglas 15 october 2019