ARCADIA, THE WORD IS LIKE A CHERRY LOZENGE

 

ARCADIA, THE WORD IS LIKE A CHERRY LOZENGE

 

Arcadia, the word is like a cherry lozenge on the tongue

or butter rum candies my sister proposed

looking up from the swing sitting idle

 

in the sunlight

peripatetic golden child of music.

and now we're seeking the names of clouds,

off on our pastel expeditions

on picnic grounds, our own backyard

did we bring the coconut cake?

 

and we are far from trouble in the blue isles

sprouting wings and laughing sporadically

in cumulo nimbus, cumulo stratus, cirrus

 

cirrus, circuses in green and the tightrope lady

in pink sequined skirts

and this is our just desserts

 

we say, scooping into the fudge sundaes

or playing in the sprinkler on

hot Arkansas days

 

when the roses boil and grandfather

concocts historic rootbeer floats

the old fashioned way

when we make a wish on the Milky Way

that summer lasts at least until Christmas.

we have his word for it, smiles Grandfather.

mary angela douglas 28 june 2016;26 august 2022;28 february 2023