Early dawn light
seeped into the lounge
of the locked ward.
Benny was sitting there
in a chair
smoking.
I entered
and sat beside him.
Morning Yiska
he said
releasing a flow
of smoke
cigarette?
I nodded
and he lit it for me.
The night nurse
was in her
small office
writing her report.
How'd you sleep?
I asked.
Not good
he said
can't get thoughts
out of my head.
Me neither
I said.
We sat in silence
for awhile.
Sunlight
grew brighter
lighting up
the lounge.
I like this
first morning peace
he said
before the others wake
and come.
Just us
I said.
He turned
and looked at me.
I moved
close to him
and kissed
soft kiss
lips on lips
then parted
sat in a stillness.
I wanted you
last night
I said
lying in bed alone
the other women
snoring or whispering
in their sleep.
I would have come
if I could
if there was a place
for us to be
he said.
The night nurse came
and looked in
the lounge
early birds
she said
after a worm?
she joked.
You could say that
I said
thinking of Benny
wanting him
to make love to me
in my bed.
May 9, 2017
May 9, 2017 at 6:45 AM UTC
Early dawn light
seeped into the lounge
of the locked ward.
Benny was sitting there
in a chair
smoking.
I entered
and sat beside him.
Morning Yiska
he said
releasing a flow
of smoke
cigarette?
I nodded
and he lit it for me.
The night nurse
was in her
small office
writing her report.
How'd you sleep?
I asked.
Not good
he said
can't get thoughts
out of my head.
Me neither
I said.
We sat in silence
for awhile.
Sunlight
grew brighter
lighting up
the lounge.
I like this
first morning peace
he said
before the others wake
and come.
Just us
I said.
He turned
and looked at me.
I moved
close to him
and kissed
soft kiss
lips on lips
then parted
sat in a stillness.
I wanted you
last night
I said
lying in bed alone
the other women
snoring or whispering
in their sleep.
I would have come
if I could
if there was a place
for us to be
he said.
The night nurse came
and looked in
the lounge
early birds
she said
after a worm?
she joked.
You could say that
I said
thinking of Benny
wanting him
to make love to me
in my bed.
PATIENTS IN A PSYCHAITRIC WARD IN 1971
