Emigre Life Not As It Is Pictured (Final Draft) Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

we were meant to hide in Cezanne

the planes of light the leaf scarcely sketched

and there you have a house lemon yellow

of sorts the ghost of our speech

populated with its allusive fairy tales out of reach

the chimes of arvo part

this is emigre life not as it is pictured in the New York Times

more venerable, venerations over time

the chimes of arvo part

the infinities split disclosing the pearl archive;

the icon that is weeping that is weeping that is weeping

into the mirrors of God.

mary angela douglas 30 november 2019