A Beautiful Narrative Stalls Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

a beautiful narrative stalls,

is led to a stable of gold...

or it is a sugar loaf


for children at a rustic table

who break off pieces

to dip in blue bowls of


milk.

this reminds them of clouds like silk

contained in a blue sky


and the sugar loaf is bright,

sparkling like snow outside

or it is buttered gold as sunrise


the world without lies

dew beading on the leaves.

or all of these at the same time


in needlepoint.


it is a rose trellised hour.

the children are their Mama's best roses,

the heirlooms; this is how she thinks.


but the teller of tales must choose

which ruse to pursue


though the children want everything for Christmas

they were made for that


to go down every last jeweled road

singing their scraps of song

to swing on the swings in moonlight


too long

so that they grew cold

with no fortune told but the Star


so far


from Auntie Em in a crystal globe

pleading oh please return

return from a poppy bright sleep;


it should be Spring.

but the trees break out into weeping

instead of flowers...


mary angela douglas 30 april 2019