Anthems

(to my Grandparents, in the singing of hymns remembered)

clinging onto the golden hymns and the silver

the amber ones of the first autumns the green and yellow

jonquil hymns the hymns of Easter April appareled

and in December the Christmas carols holding onto music

in this way I remember you my guardians on the way

of childhood, all the guardian loves and how the house was full

at the full then and singing as light and bright and in

reveries half lights

and the evening hymns, the hymns of the white dawns

windows streaked with tears of rain or frost and going out again

learning to let go to be far from the glow of home as

first remembered

in the singing of hymns, the amethyst slow and stately

the folding down

of the griefs in the flower beds and the moon

watching me as I went away

not knowing I was leaving you too except for all that

singing and the glowworm stars

oh where, where are you now as if I could bring you lilies and it would be spring again

in the blue promise of the spring, and summer following then,

the zinnias planted and

the church filled singing the Sunday noons and the rest of the week

stretching before freshly starched and pressed and

put away for so long

now that hearing the old hymns I weep and remember you all.

mary angela douglas 4 august 2021