Bailing Out

perhaps in our souls sometimes we are bailing out all day
from strange aircraft
with tiny milkweed parachutes

for a soft landing in some blue grass perfumed dream meadow
we used to understand.
the soul has its own life and is capable of this.
and sometimes, it is necessary

to be in other realms
when the shattering news comes.
the telephone call you didn't expect.

a door slammed recklessly.
then the soul retreats with lilies in its hands
and quotes Shakespeare

or the 23rd Psalm
and finds the green rivers where the sheep are banked
and soft as clouds in their woolly slumber.

down deep there lives the dearest freshness Hopkins sang.
therefore in our wilderness we will find the pear cactus
and drink deep

removing the spines.
watching the clouds turn from azure
to magenta. this time.

mary angela douglas 18 may 2020