Toy Theatre In Falling Rain Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

Here are the cardboard cutout figures
That I remember in a dream full of rain
Slightly transfigured the toy theatre stage
Does not grow damp in the backyard grass
Of childhood
Rococo angels draw the drapes
And each stage set is full of grace
With watercoloured castles in the blue distance
Or interior scenes, ballroom or sweet dream chamber
Where the princess falls asleep almost forever.
And balconies engraved
With our grade school nicknames.
Each fairytale play with its own set of characters
And backdrops and hilariously in fragile pantomimes
Sometimes we combined the characters from different tales
Making up our confusing and off the rail stories.
Nothing ever topped this for Christmas.
Among the toy possibilities.
We cherished it so. Ballet dramas
And let's begin with gauzy costumes
Applause without End;
I dream of the plays resumed.
mary angela douglas 27 april 2024