I woke from a dream, hearing
myself say aloud, "When I was queen
in my ain countrie..." That was all;
nothing more. I later remembered
that someone in this world had said
that I needed a tiara for writing.

"A tiara," she said, "marks off
the time and space in which you rule
as Creatrix. Some authors do like
to dress up, but I feel that a tiara is enough
to remind one of who one really is —
a tiara and a really good fountain pen."

So I bought a sparkly tiara for me
and another for my granddaugher,
who was of an age — three, I think —
to really enjoy a tiara. I also bought
a nice pen. But I'm the only one I know
that makes so many typos with a pen.

I much prefer a computer and its quiet hum.
The tiara gave me headaches. It tangled
and pulled my hair. I was going to wind up
with a tiara that had more hair than I did.
So I made a tiara of my own design with
honeysuckle vine, leaves and crystals.

I would quite like a nice silk gown
with feathers and fur and bright gems —
yet the tiara and gown are not meant
for anyone but the cats and me to see.
Other people don't need to know
who I really am as they pass by.

I have come to believe that there is
no Right Way — only the way that works.
For me, it is to be a Queen in My Ain Countrie
in disguise, wearing an invisible tiara
and a transparent gown of royal blue silk velvet
with a pure white lace jabot and pristine lace cuffs.

I shall just wear ordinary clothes beneath
my invisible royal vestiments so courtiers passing by
won't notice me as I create my ain countrie.

 

Copyright © 2018 by Jessica Macbeth. All rights reserved.

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Beannachd!
Jessica Macbeth