Music Box Redux Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

all music passed
we dreamed it would not go
and that the angels kept us from

knowing, all things go
as music passed
and snow from snow

was parted
and we were parted too
as cloud from cloud

and dream from dream
and branching cannot branch
here anymore you sighed

but it was into no one's language
then, or anymore how could you say
to the music, stay and to the

clouds, don't go
and to the dreams oh
never let us go if

the music has to end
this way.

oh sweet sad fuddled music box within
the key is turned and I am young again
enough to know that

nothing goes
though nothing stays in music
after all this parting learned,

unlearned when the music returns
glad angels say (and the Christmas children) :
play it again!

mary angela douglas 23 april 2015; 17 march 2016