Lady In Waiting Poem by Dónall Dempsey

LADY IN WAITING

silence
only the sound of
the tumble of thoughts

the baby sleeping
(within)
her sleeping

eiderdown feather
balanced on her tummy
baby kicks it off

she
washes...dresses
then washes dresses

early morning sickness
she can only stomach
sweetened tea

breakfastlunchsupper
the monotony of only
highly sweetened tea

she gets a craving
for fried onions
but only for the smell

cravings switch her on and
off like a light
bags of jelly babies middle of the night

the morning routine
shapes itself around her
throwing up up uP

her big big belly
baby takes her over
squatter's rights

out of the silence
a gull cries
baby cries in its sleep

her nipples weep
yawning time for
middle of the night feed