My Swans Wheel Away (Final Version) Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

[after the manner of Hans Christian Andersen]

my swans wheel away
in disbelief:
could I be theirs?

I mourn in the mirror of the
skies, perfecting my reflection
in dismay
quaking in the clear pearl shadows
of their going

my swans turn away
from my frank, happy question:
'is it you? '
incapable of reply

so lofty, made of snow,
but hard
even in blue-bell decked
midsommer, never melting-
pleased with one another

preening the crystal feathers
out of reach like stars-
they shine and blur
or is it only water that's
so dazzling

and can't be called back.
it's only I-
am sobbing 'clouds on clouds'
drifting further than could be expected -

(all-in-all)
who won't be comforted
by any tribes now-

mary angela douglas 22 july 2010; 2 october 2023