' ' ' ' ' ' ' ' Daddy Becomes Mummy(For Helen) Poem by Dónall Dempsey

Sprains her ankle
dancing with Dolly.

I soothe her crying
tickle it into laughter.

I over-the-top it
mummify it

bandage after
bandage

until her foot & the hurt
disappear.

She wears it
like a badge of courage.

Then Dolly has to have
a bandage too.

And not just one
but two!

'She sprains
all her feets! '
she explains
not to me
but to her self.

At this
Dolly nods her head.

Later, seeing me frown
worrying over something or other

she(& Dolly too)
bandage my head

in a masquerade of care
(more a case of bandaged hair)

finally announcing
when there is nearly

nothing to see
of me

'Daddy's mind
not sore no more! '