We Will Take Butter And Jelly On Small Sandwiches Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

we will take butter and jelly on small sandwiches
and launch our paper boats
as the legendary did, or the colours of kites,

the flower names of fireworks from China.

or fly with paper wings festooned with the gummed stars
we bought at the dime stores
diamond stores we said

thinking there weren't enough constellations in the sky
to compare with the glitter of the toys there
much less the semi precious candies in glass jars

will we go far on butter and jelly packed in wax paper
what if the tin soldier falls out of the boat
and must float and float

past the tissue paper sails drenched now Forever
we will eat quickly
savings the pink cakes for later

on the far shore.

mary angela douglas 8 january 2017