When Words Were Lined With Roses I Was Happy Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

when words were lined with roses I was happy

when emeralds spoke to me from dreams and became the ballets

Balanchine was famous for, scores full of jewels


the bouquets heaped onstage


when the clocks were empty as snow, on the bell towers

when the bells rang it was Christmas every hour

and in all my clauses on blue lined paper, snow was imminent.


you may think a thumbprint on a wall is not a work of art

but all things are beloved of children when they are small

except for the ones so poorly guarded by their angels.


we could speak in diamonds if we chose to

why do we speak in nails

and make of the earth a sad sad jail


why dont we ban the word eviction

all cliques notwithstanding

and remember how we wanted to be gipsies


when we grew up.


mary angela douglas 26 march 2020