Christmas Card On Parchment (With Glitter) Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

a white gold peace in a pale blue chapel
I always feel beneath these skies.
even when the sun is clouded over

somehow there is still, shining.
radiance comes in undisguised;
shaking her cloak out in the hallway.

reft of her galoshes.
instantly, it's Christmas.
skaters on the pond forever in tune

on the tea tray, cocoa tin.
the music box that plays:
The Skater's Waltz.the

glossy Christmas magazines,
trumpeting their recipes.
glorious with little last minute gift ideas.

the sugur plum movies on T.V.

the handbells of the children
ringing a crystalline, crystalline singing.
sweet steeples in a pastel light.

and the glitter snow indicated.

bells of the red the green the gold
the ones with silent clappers
meant to be the finishing touch

on the gift wrap
suddenly start pealing.
on the packages wrapped

in blue snowmen, holly wreaths
with a thin gold stripe.
the delights of curling ribbons.

in our cherry mittens we will go
to find the yards of hidden snow
frosting on our Christmas cake

the one we couldn't finish till New Year's.

mary angela douglas 3 october 2015