IN A SUGARED QUIET LIT BY PASTEL, MULTICOLOURED STARS

 

(after the school auditions for the Nutcracker Ballet) 

here is the snow-globe where the tiny fir cones

gleam in a sugared quiet lit

by pastel, multicoloured stars o in tiny spotlit rose, 

or amethyst fire, of carillon sighs through

a winter self-contained, 

if miniscule.

and it will never sleet inside your heart here

if you're not in the ballet.

you will only be surprised each time

a tinny music chirps and clicks

whenever you are shaken, 

and the universe is

flecked as if for a tiny party

all your own and the

self-same fairy confetti cotillion

drifts and sifts; 

it sparkles, trembles, curved like a new moon

on a wire and you twirl, my glaced

sugurplum, you dream

you are the queen of cherry, 

drizzled whipped cream; 

tiaraed sovereign of the ballerinas

who incarnate snows, 

their lavender shadows

and the pink the blue-

will bloom 

in this Christmas buona sera

even if no one calls you, 'Clara'.

mary angela douglas 21 november 2013; 19 october 2023