A JEWEL TONED WORD TO THE MINIMALISTS

 

still we should be filled with a longing

to be fluent in our own languages at least

as Shakespeare was, impossible as it is

to outweigh that golden largesse

I do confess with Browning

exceed your grasp in wishing

or what's dear Heaven for

and I have heard my adjectives thrashing at

the door

and mermaids sweeter tongued than Eliot's

and I WILL let them in

in every colour radiant

the adjectives that is

with their attendant imagery

and the mermaids too,

even sloshing through

even though you laugh at me

adrift in my starry, emotional creeds;

at sea!

you minimalist poets

who don*t allow even a pear blossom on the bough

of your poems

oh well.

each to his own so Lauren said

or so the script read

from childhood on

I dreamed of script in all the jewel tones

in flourishing handwriting

then settled on sweet green ink

I still think that's the best colour

for poets to write in

still in the first blush of writing

may it always be so

let it be in the colours of Spring

all of it singing

I am so thankful

for everything passed down to us

in Poetry

and could sip that nectar

hummingbird like,

forever.

clashing of cymbals

the lightning lit skies

try and stop me.

mary angela douglas 22 july 2023