Master Of The “decollo Photo.” Poem by Dónall Dempsey

You so cruel
executioner

taking so many
holiday photos

That always
behead us.

Master of
the “Decollo Photo”

(from the Latin – cut
off at the neck) .

Here I wander
in that summer

headless
as usual

careless
as if I hadn’t an unhappy
thought in my head.

And here
at dinner
under an olive tree

a headless me
still manages to be hungry

& eat all
before me.

Here, I only
have eyes for you.

Although
it’s hard to tell

because I have lost
my head

My heart
to you.

Here, even
is a self
portrait

held at arms length
startled by the flash

and preserving
for posterity

no not
that lovely
heartbreakingly beautiful
smile

but a very very
pretty

delightfully delicious
décolletage.