One Day Emerging From The Rose Thicketed Castle Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

one day emerging from the rose, brackened castle

may we emerge into the mild and wild orchid daylight

with a half shell moon still grazing the skies

and find to infinite surprise

there is no bad news forever

and all Kingdoms reprise

the glory of the first beginning

when God touched our eyes

and this was Seeing, Being, Dreaming, Alive!

and we are free, washed in the jubilant bells

delivered from all spells by Jesu, Christ, redeemed

free as the green of grass

the blue of sky

in a child's first colouring book

free to arrive by the sepia toned train station

ticketless as in an unparalleled dream

into the mainspring of happiness yet

specific as the amber of our tea,

as the endless holiday clatter of our sprigged china

and the jam filled pantry

and each will sing without needing to be

famous for it

or fly with an iridescent wing

with no edgy expectation

into the deep woods solace with diamond clarity

seeking no prey; no need to outdistance anyone-

reading through prismed tears, in telegraphic relay:


under no icarian, no feckless sun.

all battles won, we are coming home.

mary angela douglas 22 september 2022