HERE'S THE VIVID CRAYON OF THE SUN

here's the vivid crayon of the sun
the one that's not broken
the very one you could peel

instead of oranges
if the fairytale required it-
to survive

and the gold foil
chocolate coins in
nets of confetti-stars

fall out of the cupboards
of old houses
whenever you yank the

little glass knobs too hard-
it's
just in time for supper
in your new thrift-store

dress with a second-best
stiff-starch magenta petticoat;
it's fine as Christmas wrapping,
pleated like a star
only God could summon

even as another interview falls through
or simply melts away...

there's still the lemon-waxy streetlight where
the last bus waits for you only

slightly transformed

mary angela douglas 21 august 2010