LISTENING FOR THE BEGINNING OF SNOWS, WHITE FLOWERS, CELESTA

[for the poet Elinor Wylie (1885-1928)]

listening for the beginning of snows, white flowers, celesta-

I bowed my head far down
into the very velvet of God;

putting the jeweled sword back in the cupboard, carefully-

by the last of the fairytale cheese-
the plum-starred jam.

who knows what music held

for those who appear no longer;
wind the music box anyway
and don't despair,

your heart like a cloud

still does not drift
and it is a wonder

just to breathe the air
that later, snow will inhabit-

mary angela douglas 22 december 2011