After All Poem by Dónall Dempsey

Power – cut.

Let there be – dark!

(stranded like Noah’s Ark)

until you my love, my dove
bring back the gift of light

with the magical delight
of candles

candles
so many many candles.

The shadows play hide & seek
(we whisper instead of speak) .

In this light we are cast as giants
Big...bold...defiant!

We are amused
As the shadows play at being us.

Enacting an us
That is & is not us.

Your hair streams out like a river
Lover
& now reappears as a blazing fire

now we be
some mythical monsters from the sea

as we turn
& turn into

the beast with two
backs that attacks & counterattacks
& scares the cat.

We are our shadows
& they are us.

We are the substance
& they our dreams of love

shadows of what ifs & buts

but suddenly the light
re-conquers the gloom

& electricity floods the room

to find us naked
in each other’s arms

& that we are only human
after all.