Scenes From A Christmas Dollhouse In The Catalogue, Imagined Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

I will arrange the chairs and tables
in the dollhouse and call them mine
though other occupants will sit there
and wear the green taffetas from the tiny closet or the rose
depending on my mood
or catch the bouquet of paper flowers so miniscule
a small wedding is all they may afford this afternoon
space being at a premium
a wedding in a nutshell, though gilded.
we will play this all day.
while outside the flimsy windows toward the handheld mirror pond
a curtain of snow is coating the tea set of the local guides.
the larger dolls. looking on)
while the nursery bears have gone awol and smeared raspberry jam
on all the upholstery.

mary angela douglas 14 october 2021; 11 may 2023