The Queen Of Petals Reigns Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

[the fairy godmother's song to Cinderella at the beginning
of enchantments {as I imagine it}]

is it quaint to you this braiding of
lines lines of the silver the
gold entwined

and you, in your cream apron
mopping up the moonlight
from the sills?

and eating the air for breakfast
what do they care? oh
you will be dressed in

finery this rare
when the roll is called
and marked down in ink

the colour of april leaves
the wind stirs
if you please

and if they don't
you still will know
the inner satisfaction

you have called the roses
by extravagant names by
all their colours in the rains

and when the petals blow
along the pavements
seen or unseen-

it is before you they dream
as if you were,
their queen

mary angela douglas 6 february 2016