Christine
whom some ****
had left at the altar
stood beside you

looking out the window
of the locked ward
of the psychiatric hospital
into the snowy grounds

why did he leave me
at the altar?
Why didn’t he just say
he didn’t want to marry me?

she asked
you turned to look at her
her hair long
and over her shoulders

covering the top part
of her flowered dressing gown
I don’t know
you said

wondering why the creep
had done that to her
leaving her in that state
she was in

he must have been a fool
not wanting to marry you
you said
she gazed at you

her blue eyes
reaching out
like invisible fingers
to touch you

I was the fool
she said
I should have known  
snow was falling

on the windowsill
fresh and cold
and clean and white
she looked away from you

and watched the snow
someone said
you tried to hang yourself
she said softly

studying the snowflakes
on the trees
out in the grounds
so they say

you replied
I can’t remember
the radio behind
was playing

Hey Girl Don’t Bother Me
by a group
called the Tams
the dj said

you caused quite a fuss
the other day
locking yourself
in the john

and putting the belt
of your dressing gown
over the water pipe
Christine said

they thought
you were going to do it again
I guess so
you replied

she moved her left hand
to touch yours
we’re like broken dolls
she said

far off in a field
a tractor pulled a plough
through the snow
and gulls flew down

and up behind it
as it went by
her hand sent sparks
through your nerves

when it touched yours
broken dolls
you said
or puppets

with strings cut through
and tears filled her eyes
and she whispered
what is one to do?