' ' ' ' As Above So Below(For Lyn) Poem by Dónall Dempsey

I show her
the stars.

'Are they ours? '
she whispers.

'Only if we name them! '
I answer

as the Universe
undresses itself
before us.

I name the stars
for her

making up names
for the stars I don't know

...the names of.

'This one is yours...it's a Tilly star! '

I show her how
to hold it

betweeen forefinger
& thumb

gently
gently

I tell her what
constellations are.

Next night
the moon finds her

arranging her collections
of pebbles shells & stones

(taken from the mouth of rivers
taken from the sides of seas 0

adopting
a star's position

mimicking each
constellation.

'I want to be able
to see them
even when
I can't see them! '

All that sunny Sunday
her constellation of shell & stone

shone brightly
in the noon day sun.