I iron
our sheets
so painstakingly perfect
it gets on your nerves.
Recite some
Chinese poetry
whilst I’m at it.
Something about sleeping so
intently
it’s like being
ironed to the sheet.
“That’s a great line! ”
you beam.
I prepare our bed
which now appears
to be
a blue silky pool
startled with red rose
petals
floating on
its surface.
I iron a brace
of pillow case
ask you
would you like to
share pillow & sheets
with me.
You kiss me
on the nose.
“I love this
Chinese stuff! ”
“It’s so...sensual! ”
“But I should warn you...! ”
you warn me
“...there will be
very little sleep
tonight
...alright? ! ”
“Aiya! ”
(“Oh, my! ”)
“Ai! ”
“Ai! ”
“ Ai! ”
(“Love! Love! Love! ”)
I chant
relishing the promise
of her
threat.
“Bici bici! ”
(“Same to you! ”)
“Bu Kèqì! ”
(“Don’t mention it! ”)
Dónall Dempsey
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/bici-bici-same-to-you/
