After Hans Andersen's 'the Wild Swans' Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

while toying with the sand in our teacups
at the Great Feasts we were told
to make ourselves useful:

grinding cracker crumbs for the
Marvelous Meatloafs;
mixing the berried vinagrettes for the green beans

snapping to attention.
checking the pink and the bakelite stove
for the little plain cakes for our supper.

in the fairytale castles
life is not what it seemed
and minus the icing

when we wrote on diamond slates
waiting for our bluegreen majorities.
carol it whichever way you can

on a green strand
near the hollyberries
and the soapflake snow whirling all around

but I remember when learning
was the glasslike hills
and the golden apples rolling down.

mary angela douglas 31 march 2016