The old woman
was lying
on the path
from her
ground floor flat
along Harper Road
when you and Helen
walked by
on your way
from the shop
with your penny drinks
you both ran to her
and she said she’d fallen
so Helen
ran across
to the surgery
on the other side
of the road
while you knelt
by the woman
placing your
short sleeved pullover
under her head
you’re a good boy
she said
but you’ll have blood on it now
don’t matter
you said
you stroked her head
and pushed
her grey hair
out of her white blue eyes
when Helen returned
with a doctor
he examined
the old woman
and said
he had called
an ambulance
Helen stood
next to you
her eyes tearful
her hand
touching yours
the woman said
thank you both
I don’t know
what I’d have done
if you hadn’t come along
it’s the least we could do
Helen said
you waited
until the ambulance came
and took her away
and disappeared
off along Harper Road
look at your pullover
Helen said
it’s got blood on it
don’t matter
gives it colour
you replied
anyway Mum’ll wash it out
she gazed at you
through her thick lens
her eyes awash
with tears
her small hand
still in yours
the path
from the old lady’s flat
had a small stain
of dark red
where blood had seeped
where she’d laid her head
a bit like an abstract
pavement artist’s work
you said
the white stone canvas
with that touch of red.
Aug 12, 2012
Aug 12, 2012 at 2:53 AM UTC
The old woman
was lying
on the path
from her
ground floor flat
along Harper Road
when you and Helen
walked by
on your way
from the shop
with your penny drinks
you both ran to her
and she said she’d fallen
so Helen
ran across
to the surgery
on the other side
of the road
while you knelt
by the woman
placing your
short sleeved pullover
under her head
you’re a good boy
she said
but you’ll have blood on it now
don’t matter
you said
you stroked her head
and pushed
her grey hair
out of her white blue eyes
when Helen returned
with a doctor
he examined
the old woman
and said
he had called
an ambulance
Helen stood
next to you
her eyes tearful
her hand
touching yours
the woman said
thank you both
I don’t know
what I’d have done
if you hadn’t come along
it’s the least we could do
Helen said
you waited
until the ambulance came
and took her away
and disappeared
off along Harper Road
look at your pullover
Helen said
it’s got blood on it
don’t matter
gives it colour
you replied
anyway Mum’ll wash it out
she gazed at you
through her thick lens
her eyes awash
with tears
her small hand
still in yours
the path
from the old lady’s flat
had a small stain
of dark red
where blood had seeped
where she’d laid her head
a bit like an abstract
pavement artist’s work
you said
the white stone canvas
with that touch of red.
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