BRIGHT WAS OUR FORTRESS BEFORE FADING

for MZ

 

BRIGHT WAS OUR FORTRESS BEFORE FADING

Bright was our fortress before fading

When the snow skies cleared

And the sky was in strips of azure

With the sapphire light shining through it

How glasslike they seemed

The places we went to reenact

The imaginary battles, the toylike scenarios

If only all history had been so

Or war had come to mean in any language

People throwing flower petals at each other

In the orchards

Or drumming had only been

Because people loved red and gold parades

And raspberry raz mah taz and all that glorious fizz

Dear God, let there be no more dead.

No more moribund exits from the stage

We are anguished from fighting what never wants peace

But constant stirring up of the earth in turmoil.

You made us for tranquility

Like the blue white depths that exist in Space

Where only music is.

Restore to us the apricot lullabies.

And to Yourself, the apple windfalls

Of wine and gold.

mary angela douglas 8 may 2024