For Banished Music Poem by Mary Angela Douglas

[for John Dowland and myriad others]

why do they balk at the beautiful words
and send them pitiless, away?
and for this, they expect to be admired:

that they have let the opaline fires dwindle
down to ash or that that they have lashed them
laughing in a superior way

onto the departing masts until they drift

harbor to harbor now, unwelcome in any language.
gilded, gilded for naught I thought
until I thought I would break down.

ah no breathed my glad angels, no.
find them wind them then the clocks of
beauty scorned and phrase by phrase

renew the obviated music!
no light was ever lit for banishment.
renew the facets of their diamond days

the emerald grasses sapphire suns.
hold sway. the jeweled winds arise.
and fashion, fashion it as though

you came upon their snowdrifts suddenly
in an ancient wood, so struck by awe and stood:
bowed head and tears flow my tears, flow

for the arrows let
go from the stinging bow, the wounded deer,
the Rose unfolding heedless sterling Center

of it all

mary angela douglas 8 july 2015