Looking Glass

if you break the ripples in the water

will you enter the looking glass of the lake

will the perseid showers make then an appearance

and all around the rim of the rose will there be dew

these questions I almost asked You

breaking the web of a garlanded silence

in star flecked chiffon on the night in question

fleeing to hear the greenwood's fretted song

now I abide in the snow flecked time thereafter

the glitter dome shaken the question on the other side

and know that I am still the bride

bearing the selfsame  riddle on the urnward tides.

mary angela douglas 17 february 2021

To Wim Wenders On His Angelic Images

let the guardians fall from the skies

as tender as snow feathers the angels

looking after humankind

and find in the whisper of a prayer

in the blueberry picking dreams of the children

the key to beginning again

let the winds sway Edenward

in a pale green listening

and the child lost in snow

recover the light

relieved of snow blindness

and half dream of those who study as if it were a vow

confined to libraries and to a distant quest

take another breath

those about to jump from bridges

take a step back

or fall into the arms of the angels reduced to

human perplexity and fresh coffee

counting the rays of the sun in base two

in primary colours in secret distress, delight

radioing in the beauty and fragility

the tragedy the infinite redemption

of those still on earth.

mary angela douglas 9 february 2021

I Used To Write Poems To You For The Constellations

I used to write poems to You for the constellations

and speak to You through the Psalms in shades of blue and green

and thank you profusely for making the skies turn cranberry

in drear and drizzling January.

I have lost count of all the things that have made my heart glad.

And certainly I know I am not your only child.

such as I am I thank you Lord God for every breath.

for all the sunsets I have left.

and for the myriad things so numerous, winged and lovely

(the music I have heard)

I cannot put them into words.

mary angela douglas 2 january 2020