Maybe It Is Forever Having To Be Certain Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

maybe it is forever having to be certain

as in the tale of Sleeping Beauty that

all the spinning wheels are banned

to the last one in the Kingdom

so that the curse at hand is averted.

somehow, there is always one left

and one spindle is all that is needed

to cause her not to awake

for such a long time.

who can cut through the briars now

that have grown so thick around her

around us all.

when will we awake and if we do

will we recall the dreams

that came to us then

or will the same danger await us

some languorous afternoon

in another curious disguise

in a palace full of lies

and we repeat the miserable pantomime

the same scene in the same recurring and

intransigent play.

and you and I

on some revolving stage

that bodes no good.

o earth, desist.

and oh my soul

find out the secret room

where death awaits

for all your lovely childhood's sake

and vanquish it

with Light.

before the perilous night returns

and banishes us

again.


mary angela douglas 7 august 2019