God Gave Names To All (For Scarlett) Poem by Dónall Dempsey

“This is Grace
my littlest love! ”

“Because she was
conceived by the grace of God! ”

She hooshes the old dog out.
He goes out through the cat flap.

Grace squirms.
Wants a toffee.

“No...no toffee! ”
She tells Gracie
and Gracie accepts it
as if she had just been trying her luck
and didn’t expect to get one anyway.

“This is Dream! ”

And indeed she is
dreamish

as if she’s off in another world
smiling at some other world flower.

“I dreamed a dream
that said I would have her

& here
is her! ”

“She’s only older
by a year
...this one! ”

“But sometimes she can be a real
nightmare! ”

I laugh at the humour
at the heart of it all.

“And this...”

she pats the cat
dozing on her pregnant belly

is Trinity! ”

I don’t know whether
she is referring

to the child to be
or sleepy cat.

She reads my mind
& laughs.

“No...the cat’s
called Divinity! ”

“’cos he
thinks she’s God! ”

“So, Mary... your husband
must be Joseph! ”

“How did you know? ”

“Lucky guess
...I guess! ”

“There is no luck
only God knows! ”

Yeah I bet
(I think to myself) .

My promised land
lady

a little too religious
for me.

I go
(trekking through an Egypt
of rented flats)

leaving the Holy Family

smiling
waving at the door.

God Blessing
their

“God Bless! ”