On Jenny Lind Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

(for Hans Christian Andersen)

on Jenny Lind the poet was silent
I think of him in his latter days
or rather, imagine his chair faced the wall
one small dormer window lit; the mystical snow ballets heaped outside.
for Jenny Lind.
has the heart an aria left for the long unfolding winter's chime
a caparisoned horse on which to ride
in the jeweled the saddening night
have all blue birds taken flight
and childhood's ones of viridian green
is light a captive of the story that must wend
where the ghosts of curio stories most abide
the chance of being read or cast aside
the heart's last murmuring;
the mermaid, perished on the violet wave.
the twilight cannot stay nor Jenny Lind
a small lark lodged in his throat.
one crystal note.
weeping on the quay
along a starlit way.
who is it the sparrows ask
out of an antique Past
he cries for Jenny Lind
for Jenny Lind,
at last.
mary angela douglas 25 december 2020; rev 27 decembr 20