REFERENCE WORK
(to Hans Christian Andersen)
we shall consult the Encyclopedia of Snow
things written, seen, enacted that have somehow been effaced
for instance: the entry for Orange
slightly glazed
though a wedding fragrance lingers in the air
on the page with the entry for orange blossoms, lily of the valley
and there is the entry for jade things made
in several centuries, and the milky jade
does look pale emerald sheerly in the pages of snow remembered
clearly
the soul's impression very young
so how did they say it, once upon
let us not rifle through the songs of the disappearing
catalogued here
the Emperor's nightingale in the fabled garden
may yet appear among the white rose buds where
Death lets go its hold weeping, at the song
that holds such sweet repose
and the flight of swans transposed
once more into men may yet regale
as the legend of the hour the evil enchantments ceased.
God holds all in His power
the princess from the tower released, the princes too
it's not too late the clock of all clocks is chiming here
the angel cherishing of the Child's tear
the clock of fate remember what you will
though half the world forgets
the reason for the violets, the incomprehensible stars
choosing instead the trivialities and the trinket tournaments
slighting again the noble dead.
treading the ghosts of beauty down.
mary angela douglas 26 april 2021
This poem has not been translated into any other language yet.
I would like to translate this poem