Knock! Knock! Poem by Dónall Dempsey

It was like
a joke
gone wrong
or a forgotten ending.

“Knock knock! ”
said the door.

“Who’s there? ”
I answered.

It was you
or rather
the memory of you.

It just pushed
its way in

asking how I was
getting on

now that you were
gone.

“Fine! ”
(I lied)
“Fine! ”

The memory of you
...smiled.

It did everything
you used to do

set in your favorite chair
arms covering
your breasts

crossed heels
covering your sex

naked &
at the same time not

scattered underwear
everywhere

that I as usual
picked up

answering from
the darkened bedroom
in your bedroom voice

“I’m
in here! ”

Shouted from the loo
for a new loo roll

as if you were
a programmed hologram

from the deck of
the Starship Enterprise.

Highly illogical.

The memory of you
did everything

you do

except be

you

for real.