SOME DAYS I THINK OF SWANS

 

some days I think of swans

the way Hans Andersen did

on the glass lake in front of

the castle and the tin soldier

helpless without water

gazing without water

in the thirst of his soul

and the dancer there

with her bit of tinsel

he mistook for a heart.

some days I think of

swans, the wilder version

living out their spell

and from the height of vast cloud

countries he can tell you

how it looks down below them

and it makes you dizzy.

how did he get this from books

the way of telling

so that you could feel

it was you there in the clouds

you yourself there circling and circling

looking for the place to land.

or still, on the glass waters

with the other actors

playing the scene

or like the mermaid

only a gleam

upon the waters.

this gleam is your love-

you are gone, then.

mary angela douglas 23 october 2015