To All The Children Who Wanted To Be King Or Queen Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

to all the children who wanted to be king or queen
of the classroom, dayroom dramas
of their dreams in apple green sour or mauve or anything

to thee I bring these cowslip broidered poems
where you are free to be crowned with
gummy stars, dimestore gems and the
last of the aluminum foil from the

kitchen cabinet or you are home sick
and the thought of candle wick costumes
conjured at halloween occurs

and so you practice being princess, earl,
all the day ringing the small bell
at bedside anyway for more soup please

and gingerale and tell me please just
one more fairy tale or let me breathe
once upon instead the pine scented winds

at lane's end or feel brocaded longings
stir for the outdoors autumn scented
tromping back again to

school and learning the golden rule
and knowing we're king and queen
of everything already when we just

so apple checked off the roll call list
sing out 'present', presentful of whims.

mary angela douglas 27 february 2017