TOY THEATRE IN FALLING RAIN

 

TOY THEATRE IN FALLING RAIN

Here are the cardboard cutout figures

That I remember in a dream full of rain

Slightly transfigured the toy theatre stage

Does not grow damp in the backyard grass

Of childhood

Rococo angels draw the drapes

And each stage set is full of grace

With watercoloured castles in the blue distance

Or interior scenes, ballroom or sweet dream chamber

Where the princess falls asleep almost forever.

And balconies engraved

With our grade school nicknames.

Each fairytale play with its own set of characters

And backdrops and hilariously in fragile pantomimes

Sometimes we combined the characters from different tales

Making up our confusing and off the rail stories.

Nothing ever topped this for Christmas.

Among the toy possibilities.

We cherished it so. Ballet dramas

And let’s begin with gauzy costumes 

Applause without End;

I dream of the plays resumed.

mary angela douglas 27 april 2024