A Silver Branch Is Broken From Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

to the poets of the Russian Silver Age and their inheritors

a silver branch is broken from
a golden tree.

in the upper atmosphere
are many angels
and clouds of shimmering
radiant symbols

if it were colder it would be
snowing angels
and Christmas could come early

but you lose your way in
the fairytale forest
forgetting to be
on your guard-

plucking a rose in the
fatal hour-
turning to stone.

all blazing kingdoms
corroborate:

the same victory on the same day

and there is world-wide entertainment
and sherbert in 10,000 flavors

but the milk-white sky pours out
pitchers of sorrow

the sun on its own bakes
bitter loaves
and like children unjustly punished

we can't stop weeping for
the silver branch

cut from the golden tree-

mary angela douglas 13 june 2005/30 august 2005/copyright 2006