Tilly tells me <br />she “adores” the smell <br /> <br />of <br />the light. <br /> <br />Watches intensely <br />as I fiddle with the wick <br /> <br />of our battered <br />kerosone lamp. <br /> <br />I smile <br />as her eyes light up. <br /> <br />Love how she loves <br />everything with a passion. <br /> <br />“Adore” is her <br />new found much used word. <br /> <br />So now <br />she “adores” the rich ritual <br /> <br />of lighting the lamp <br />and all its accordant magic. <br /> <br />Hand in hand <br />we scatter the darkness <br /> <br />that snarls <br />& reluctantly backs away <br /> <br />but then creeps back <br />behind us <br />its tongue <br />lapping at us <br /> <br />licking its lips <br />as if it would <br /> <br />swallow us up <br /> <br />but it is afraid of <br />the smelly light. <br /> <br />The wind tries to blow us out. <br /> <br />Scared she clutches <br />me all the tighter. <br /> <br />“I don’t like the way the light <br />makes the darkness darker.” <br /> <br />Her voice shivers. <br /> <br />I catch her up <br />in the crook of my arm. <br /> <br />She cuddles closer <br />as we walk on towards the barn <br /> <br />adrift in a sea <br />of darkness. <br /> <br />We the only <br />speck of light <br /> <br />(no stars tonight) <br /> <br />we the light <br />of the world. <br />The pregnant cow <br />lowing as if it knows <br />we are coming. <br /> <br />She nuzzles <br />into me <br /> <br />a frightened <br />little mouse <br /> <br />jumping <br />when an owl demands of us: <br /> <br />”Who...who...who! ” <br /> <br />“Your chest is <br />too tickly! <br /> <br />She complains sleepily. <br /> <br />“Ah...yes. My little chickadee! ” <br />I W.C. Fields her. <br /> <br />This never fails <br />to amuse her. <br /> <br />Our intertwined laughter <br />& the smell of the light <br /> <br />dispelling <br />the darkness <br /> <br />the pregnant cow <br />delighted to see us.<br /><br />Dónall Dempsey<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-smell-of-the-light-for-lyn/
