The Last Cherry Dress Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

the cherry basted dress with the golden thread
I have hemmed now, said her Grandmother.
and the little girl drew a counterpane of snow;

a small bird's cry and the holly berry bush outside
the window:
outside the window of Forever, knowing fairy tales

could never have that sheen again
they had when she was here.
and wondering where the violet music disappeared

till wondering was no more;
and where in God's failed paradise she would wear
a dress, that beautiful.

mary angela douglas 28 june 2014

Note on the poem: failure not from within God; failure from within Paradise. Also, some gifts that are given from a family that loves us can seem to0 precious for earth's use.