SMALL BEER

My lunchtime beer, extra pale, labelled
Blonde, Fiere et Genereuse
made me number all the blondes I've known
born or helped.

Though it's true some are proud –
soft as nettles, cutting as seagrass,
some are generous –
welcome as sunshine, warm as the afternoon sea,
some are neither –
sharp as rocket, pretty as mustard,
circling themselves like seagulls on an up draught

I drink to one who is all three –
blonde as August, opinionated, blunt,
fierce mother of her girls,
elegant as day, rare as beach amber,
pale as blueberries, fine as sand,
quick as a curling wave, open as love –
you, my friend.

EINSTEIN AND THE HOVERBOARD

To keep your balance, you must keep moving
 – Albert Einstein

You're actually going places
in a way that's really dangerous.
Look forward, not down.
If you want to slow,
push in your heels.
You have control.
But if you want to go forward,
think and lean, use both sides.
Stop holding on to things.

Kate Dempsey's collection, The Space Between, is published by Doire Press