On The Head Of A Pin(For Scarlet Ribbons) Poem by Dónall Dempsey

“God darn it! ”

“It’s hell trying to
mend the hole in this sock! ”

Every time I try to thread
the needle through

I can’t ‘cos

of the million...billion or so
(who’s counting? Who cares?)

Angels
on the top of its tip

...dancing.

“Bloody angels”
“Go on...bugger off...go on
get outta it! |”

I hit out with the holey sock
gripped tightly in my fist.

Angels! Angels!
scattered all over
(how many?)
who knows!
(the floor) .

I hoover them up
& get on with the task at hand

Mending the hole
in this bloody black sock.