Elementary

I found in all the cells that breathe
through all the plants and all the trees
through all the leaves and all the stems

an emerald kingdom without end
and replicated.
a tower of green a sky of lime

a princess serving out her time
waving a bright kerchief.
but I was born when the page was torn

on the fairy tale primer, or scuffed on the cover
and all my teachers said, "enough!" of what you discovered
when we had turned the corner

into the space age and science and

math were all the rage
and I admit, they have their kingdoms too.
beshrew me for a fool, I'm still immune.

I never could rule out the possibility
there were kingdoms in everything.
just in miniature. and

small knights in gold
galloping up the crystal roads.

mary angela douglas 5 july 2020