CAROLYN USHERED INTO THE GARDENS

(for Carolyn Hooper, in Scottish Heaven )

for SHAWN AND LIAM HOOPER

Carolyn ushered into the gardens with no weeds ever,

guaranteed;

strolling over the pathways with no particular snows

whimsical in the hardware stores that carry no shovels

except the little spades for children's sandcastle pails

pure gold, the sand.

there she is by the Infinite Strand picking up diamond sea glass

with the Lord; alternatively picnicking with peanut butter 

and blackberry jam samiches. She meets John Milton and waves an airy

hand;first name basis, you understand

in a summer floating dress of pink and blue gauze

and looks around for the Kingdom of Oz.

I'm NOT the WITCH! She smiles,auditioning, unless its Glinda you

want. always fancied her pink dress and wand

and all that fol de rol once upon, and musicals too

and the coves are 

lit up like sapphire blue;

she has no complaints

It's almost as though I've become a saint, she quips

in a charmed and haloed light; her chandelier earrings glistening

like Andreomeda.

she opens the heavy oak rose twined cottage door

she looks so happy!!braid rugs on the floors

in all her favorite shades..banana splits galore;

peering out at her children below deck

through a jeweled periscope,I'll bet at brothers and sisters

and dear Indiana back in Time

BE WELL BE GOOD BE KIND

SHE WHISPERS IN HER THEATRE VOICE

SUBLIME TO ALL HER FRIENDS ON EARTH

it's opening night in Heaven

and doing a one woman show for all it's worth

she's en pointe in silk ballet slippers

a very purple beaded gown of tulle

all birthdays are young now she exults

and school is OUT!

and smiling ear to pearly earlobe

about the Golden rule.she is redoubtable still

and oh, what else.too much sugar in the tea

she laughs and says to me;

she's reprimanding the elves upon the shelf.

the pushers of envelopes.and handing out Peeps.

sweets to the sweet she says with just a wee

hint of wryness. here comes the angel wings

she's singing Let It Snow. And Jimmy crack CORN

I don't care if it do.She laughs in raspberry syllables with you and

you, Shawn and Liam.Id rather see a purple cow than be one.

long before that evening sun

she had sure her battle won.

home is the scholar home from the sea

the mother of brilliant constancy

and the actress, home from the hills.

mary angela douglas 3 july 2023;4 july 2023

note: last two lines paraphrasing Robert Louis Stevenson's REQUIEM