Scarecrow Not Quite Dissolving By Orange Lollipop Lamp Light Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

the scarecrow mixed his tenses but
he smiled
although inside he was
weeping straw, sometimes-

he gestured with his rag-doll hands,
the very soul of courtesy.

oh did you hold onto the tangerine days?
each one was like a best balloon-
and straw-by-straw on your

lopsided way, find everything
was meant for you?

and we were sorry for the times
you skittered into the flame-throwers-
and so happy you were stitched up-

in the end-

mary angela douglas (probably 2012)