Tread Softly(For Janice) Poem by Dónall Dempsey

I scatter the words
(each written on an A4)
across the floor


I

Love You

So

Very very

Much


which you discover
as you tip-toe out to wee

picking up the sense
as you go

your laughter
reaching me

as you reach
the last word.

That night
our first apart
(in our first month)

you use them
as stepping stones

across my absence

as they
lead you

from bedroom door to bed

my words
holding tenderly

each little step

that takes
you to

your dreams

where we

kiss &

kiss &

kiss.