Cotillion

always waiting for the beautiful ship to come
is no way to live but we lived that way
living on docks in every angle of the sun

each day the same
despite the indigo waves turning to vermillion.
I wasnt asked to the cotillion

but I danced on invisible waves
a reasonable approximation of a mermaid
learning to be human

and it hurts. this coral enterprise.
also to be mute. so to be thought wise
to communicate through fins

waving in the water 
when the water turns to gold.

mary angela douglas 19 march 2020