Only Because We Built The Dream Cities Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

only because we built dream cities by the rivers of dream
were we accounted incompetents, ne'er do wells
forever untrained for success,

obstinate in class genus species

but I, she said I washed my cloth of gold, nevertheless
in the Infinite, where fountains flow from Christ's breast
and gold is gold though the dress is faded

after many washings, the sweet rosebud print...
we were accounted nomads, less than.
retail fodder.

how could we stand
those with no plan. of wayward bent
who studied castles and paid the rent

Always, on the songs of Caledonia
the crenelations.

flip burgers they all said, and
flipping from station to station
on holidays for the nation

you'll get along.
but we had the life of trees
our heads in clouds

barely registered on the GNP
in any Crowd- deemed
less fortunate in Society

with mothball gloves and hats
no requiescat, yet, I smiled at home
and home was God, whenever we set out

on the fairy tale road
or sent
the orphaned dove of the Ark

from dream sea to dream sea flitting withouten any boat
falling flat off the census in odd years they noted it down
immune, but not to tears and the polarities,

abiding in the Trinity,
having had all our shots
and pot shots taken too or it was

as if we were zoo animals
always on view behind the grille
or in quilted coats visible from the road.

with whatever the leftover cans are on Tuesdays.
generic at the pantries
we have paid our dues

washing our souls by the river of dreams.
not self sufficient sniff the orderlies or
the would- be takers in hand.

we are God's merry band.
the ones you dread
since it could be you, instead

as you dread sinking Higher
the Cross that's not for hire
the lilies, the lilies, He said,

beyond all tiring.

mary angela douglas 2 december 2018; rev.23 january 2019