12

 (in honor of the tale: the 12 dancing princesses)

I remember that subterranean fairy tale

how even as a child I loved

the secret places, their any excuse to be...

the sudden opening in the trees

pure branches closing over you

or rose lidded, the unit on music.

was it the Kingdom of Dream

that opened in the twilight castle

dimly lit

each shadow blue violet

and a staircase appears

and the quarter moon.

is it a tune I remembered

the slippered sound

like snow

of 12 fairy princesses

stealing down

into the starlit underground

was it a depth of dreams revealed

that gave that tale mysterious appeal

or the thought of the only one clue

the slippers worn clear through

I didn't know then

I don't know now

the tale of 12

the perfection of it

the mysterious taking place

on deeper balconies of grace

and turrets disappearing into space, 

under multi tinted clouds

and everything for the Dance, stage set

as though they were ordained for it.

mary angela douglas 3 march 2018