I floated <br />to the ceiling <br /> <br />& stuck there <br />like a Christmas balloon <br /> <br />then I slowly <br />drifted <br /> <br />through the open window <br /> <br />startling <br />a passing starling <br /> <br />amazed at a human <br />invading his space. <br /> <br />There was a silly smile <br />on my face. <br /> <br />My other body <br />lay on the bed <br /> <br />wrestling with a temperature <br />of 103 degrees. <br /> <br />There was I <br />& there was me <br /> <br />both of <br />us <br /> <br />in this <br />together. <br /> <br />I swimming <br />through the air <br /> <br />getting caught <br />in the gossamer <br /> <br />strands of bird song <br /> <br />clinging on to me <br />like cobwebs <br /> <br />while the real me <br />who appeared to be really ill <br />burned <br />alive <br /> <br />in <br />himself. <br /> <br />The smell of sausages <br />ran up the stairs <br /> <br />as I faded <br />into a wallpaper rose <br /> <br />dissipated <br />like a ghost <br /> <br />amongst <br />the dust motes <br /> <br />crying for the coolness <br />of my big sister’s flannelled hand.<br /><br />Dónall Dempsey<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-smell-of-sausages-for-helen/
