Choir

we dressed our dolls the best we could
in our enchanted neighborhood
and carried them both fro and to

in doll carriages of pink and blue
(we wished) or in
the same red wagon we both knew.

something in the sidewalks near our house
glinted like gold or mica in the sun
late summer days we stayed inside

and drank cool drinks and dressed the bride
for weddings that would never come
but still she was the favored one

and carried firmly her bouquet
on every single solitary day
the most persistent of them all

we always took her to the ball
where she danced solo to applause.
and all the other dolls agreed

in 15 part harmonies if you can imagine that.

mary angela douglas  29 february 2020