Even The Stars Stop To Listen...(For Lyn) Poem by Dónall Dempsey

ONE DAY...AT A TIME

The night
enters into the house.

It has the soft voice
of summer.

The moon, obedient
waits outside

tells a bird to be quiet.

The night enquires
about my health

asks me how
the cancer is
treating me.

I grin.

“We’re strange bedfellows
but...we get on! ”

“We have our
...moments.”

The night smiles
softly to herself

chats easily
as I fall asleep

listening to her soft voice
of summer.

When I awake
she has gone

and morning
grins

talks loudly
in that sunlight & birds
voice of his.

“Well, well
look who’s still here! ”

I grin
again.

“Hello...yourself! ”

*******

EVEN THE STARS STOP TO LISTEN

In her cradle
the baby plays
with the heavens.

I watch her
pretending to be asleep

a star on the tip
of each finger.

She scatters them
& laughs

when they drift miraculously
back into position.

The baby chuckles.

The stars out of breath.

I go
& pick her up

Cradle her
in my arms

croon her name
over & over.

Such a little
bundle of love.

Even the stars
stop to listen.

Even the cancer
smiles.

*******

STEALING MY LIFE

My future
slipping imperceptibly

away

but I
unwilling to die

steal my life
back from death.

The cancer
& I

both fighting for


my self.