ONE DAY...AT A TIME 
 
The night 
enters into the house. 
 
It has the soft voice 
of summer. 
 
The moon, obedient 
waits outside 
 
tells a bird to be quiet. 
 
The night enquires 
about my health 
 
asks me how 
the cancer is  
treating me. 
 
I grin. 
 
“We’re strange bedfellows 
but...we get on! ” 
 
“We have our 
...moments.” 
 
The night smiles 
softly to herself 
 
chats easily 
as I fall asleep 
 
listening to her soft voice 
of summer. 
 
When I awake 
she has gone 
 
and morning  
grins 
 
talks loudly 
in that sunlight & birds 
voice of his. 
 
“Well, well 
look who’s still here! ” 
 
I grin 
again. 
 
“Hello...yourself! ” 
 
******* 
 
EVEN THE STARS STOP TO LISTEN 
 
In her cradle 
the baby plays 
with the heavens. 
 
I watch her 
pretending to be asleep 
 
a star on the tip 
of each finger. 
 
She scatters them 
& laughs 
 
when they drift miraculously  
back into position. 
 
The baby chuckles. 
 
The stars out of breath. 
 
I go 
& pick her up 
 
Cradle her 
in my arms 
 
croon her name 
over & over. 
 
Such a little 
bundle of love. 
 
Even the stars 
stop to listen. 
 
Even the cancer 
smiles. 
 
******* 
 
STEALING MY LIFE 
 
My future 
slipping imperceptibly 
 
away 
 
but I  
unwilling to die 
 
steal my life 
back from death. 
 
The cancer 
& I 
 
both fighting for 
 
 
my self.
Dónall Dempsey
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/even-the-stars-stop-to-listen-for-lyn/