As I Stood Before The Looking Glass Wood Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

as I stood before the looking glass wood
seven angels at my side
all other mirrors glanced aside

their windows blackening.
I saw the balloon of emerald glide
down to the shivering shore.

seven angels at my side
the rose composed of deep thought
and a singular fragrance

wrought of me the vow of childhood
not to forsake.
not to forsake and the seven angels cried

and the candelebras of the stars wept the dew
and this is you then and you now dressed in meteors, simply

still at the wood's edge and the candled whispered wish
in your head on the fond cake with the family then

the pledge taken
with vows as soft as snow unbeknownst to them
the emerald balloon ascending

the seven angels by my side.
the night countries of Orion.

the woods lit up with snow in the Dream Time.
I hear them whispering, goodbye, goodbye my child
the red rose shielded in my heart through thickening winds

no emblem of the moment but abiding

and God the garden, guardian, the snows in my heart filling up
to the brim of starlight broken apart, the bread of Beauty.
and all of it, in a lava of gold cannot cannot subside

a quake of the beautiful
awakening awakening
I have brought and sold none of it

cherry bright preserved it beyond diamond bright
There, on the Other Side not made of stone, but if so,
stone weeping weeping

mystifying the angels
my balloon glides home.

mary angela douglas 24 august 2018