Donal Mahoney- Three Poems

Two in the Soup

We’re twins.

We’ve been together

from the start.

You’re the doctor.

You know that.

She didn’t sound happy

when you told her

there were two. 

We’re worried

she doesn’t want us.

See you next week

when she comes back 

with her decision.

We’ll float till then.

Nothing else to do.

Willie Counsels Millie

Let’s stop the crying, Millie.

It’s true our friends are dying.

They’re old like you and me.

Why not celebrate instead

that 80 years ago you and I

came into the world.

No doctor pulled us

from the womb and

tore us limb from limb.

Coma

Sleet on the turnpike

in the middle of the night 

but I keep driving,

both hands on the wheel,

nowhere to pull off,

and a yellow bus

comes over the line

and kisses my truck.

That's all I remember.

Now I'm in bed,

wired to things,

unable to move,

listening to a doctor 

telling my wife,

"It's been two weeks,

no improvement."

He asks her nicely

if we should let him go,

the dimwit bastard.

If I could, I'd scream 

but I can't even

wiggle my toes.

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Donal Mahoney lives in St. Louis, Missouri.