◄
WARD
►
THE WARD
The grey light of dawn
slants across
the iron bedsteads...
A trolley rattles.
A nurse in sturdy shoes
walks heavily
across linoleum floors.
Good morning gentlemen..
Bed pan? Mouth wash?
Slept well Mr B?
Slept well Mr T?"
She doesn't wait to hear the answer.
"Where am I?"
bleats the frightened voice
of the man suffering
from mental confusion.
"Hospital dear".
The nurse's answer is automatic
The man has asked daily
for four months now.
"Nurse, what day is it?"
Bright blue eyes
look anxiously
from the tired face.
"Monday" says the nurse.
The hint of hope
in the blue eyes fades.
"Thank you nurse.
I just wondered."
"Can't think why you bother"
snaps the man
suffering from arthritis,
"Every day's the same here."
"Not for me.
I'm going home"
trills the man
who came in to have his
big toe straightened.
His wife was
calling for him by car,
he told them.
"Goodness knows how
She'll manage the housework.
My toe is terribly sore."
The man whose right leg
has been amputated,
says nothing
He has heard the tea trolley
with its rattle of cups
approaching.
And is grateful
for small mercies.
J MILTON © 2022
www PoetryNext com