Pink Patent Pocketbook Song On The Planet Mars

[to my sister and the colour, "pink"]

you with your pink pocketbook

would always do well

in the wilderness, woods

with the moth lights glow before you

or pirouetting on the edge of

What May Come

with a silk parasol, flame-like,

the color of the moment

you were in oh

in the garden in organdie

with ruffles that matched

our orange juice

we barely learned to walk

poured out in a summer shade

because it seemed like we could fly

we knew we could

if we just tried,

and not because of Walt Disney.
(well not, just because of him)

I pray you are in the shade now

cold drinks at hand

stores of candy, all your own the

trunks full of pirate gold.

I'm out here weaving clover chains

on my own pretending I'm again

in the old back yard

where once we went inside

and there was pink lemonade cake

and all the wishes I can make

I think are about used up

so I'll use this last one

just like we did that summer

practicing for when the wish fairy comes

we'll wish for infinite wishes

and there'll be no end

as there's not to stars

and we'll go off and arm in arm

to live on Mars with our

matching pink pocketbooks.

mary angela douglas 24 march 2015

The Clouds Fall Down They Call It Snow

did she spill rose light on the floor she thought perhaps
or pull the curtains and then it was night and if you
pull them again will it be day

the clouds fall down
they call it snow
music comes out of my Grandmother's grand piano

whenever she sails the ivory keys she dispenses
the chocolate squares wrapped in silver foil
the dog wants in when it rains and joins in

all our games did
we spill happiness on the rugs, on the pale sofa with
the bright pillows?

i drew the curtains back and it was summer
glorious summer said Hans Andersen
giving the flowers their names

and I thought, cornflower blue
are the mermaid's eyes she must be crying
how are rainbows made through prisms

what are willows? what is on tv
Walt Disney lives in his own kingdom.
so do we

mary angela douglas 8 february 2015