REFERENCE WORK

(to Hans Christian Andersen)


we shall consult the Encyclopedia of Snow

things written, seen, enacted that have somehow been effaced

for instance: the entry for Orange

slightly glazed

though a wedding fragrance lingers in the air

on the page with the entry for orange blossoms, lily of the valley

and there is the entry for jade things made

in several centuries, and the milky jade

does look pale emerald sheerly in the pages

of snow remembered

clearly

the soul's impression very young

so how did they say it, once upon

let us not rifle through the songs of the

disappearing

catalogued here

the Emperor's nightingale in the fabled garden

may yet appear among the creamy rose buds

where

Death lets go its hold weeping, at the song

that holds such sweet repose

and the flight of swans transposed

once more into men may yet regale

as the legend of the hour the evil

enchantments ceased.

God holds all in His power

the princess from the tower released, the

princes too

it's not too late the clock of all clocks is

chiming here

the angel cherishing of the Child's tear

the clock of fate remember what you will

though half the world forgets

the reason for the violets, the

incomprehensible stars

choosing instead the trivialities and the

trinket tournaments

slighting again the noble dead.

treading the ghosts of beauty down.


mary angela douglas 26 april 2021