A MAN CALLED SHAUN
Each morning at six thirty
Arrived a man in white
Pushed his cart, through the door
And then, turned on the light
We could hear him coming
Right from the very start
Because, we heard the jingling
From the tubes, stacked in his cart
Each morning that whole week
He’d rouse us from our sleep
So I planned revenge
On that little creep
I said to roommate Warner
Don’t say a single word
Today’s the day that payback
At last will be incurred
“Good morning Ja” he whispers
“Are you by chance awake”
I pretend I’m fast asleep
Not a single move, I make
“Can I take some blood”
He sounds a bit disturbed
So I just lay there quietly
I’m not the one perturbed
He says “O.K.”
“I’ll do Mr. Warner first”
I’m thinking to myself “That’s great”
“Go ahead and do your worst”
I lay in wait
Till he returned
I hadn’t moved
I hadn’t turned
As he came close
I snored a bit
I knew that he
Was in a snit
“It’s me Shaun again”
“Are you awake”
I thought “Of course I’m not”
“Give me a break”
“Give me your arm”
“This won’t take long”
I thought, “O.K.”
I’ll play along
I extend my arm
He grabs my hand
And on my bicep
Ties a band
“Just a little pinch”
“And then, we’re done”
That’s exactly when
I planned my fun
As the needle pierces me
I scream like *******
He’s taken by surprise
He starts to scream as well
He drops the tubes
And his tray
I’m laughing hard
What can I say
“I’m sorry Ja”
“What did I do”
“To cause this pain”
“Did I hurt you”
I laugh so hard
My stomach hurts
Into our room
The head nurse bursts
“What’s going on”
“Is someone hurt”
“Shaun stuck my arm”
I laugh and blurt
“Now look, old man”
“It’s not allowed”
“To on this ward”
“Be so loud”
“Another outburst”
“Of this sort”
“And I will put you”
“On report”
I’m laughing still
And Warner too
Warner can’t stop
He’s turning blue
The nurse gets mad
“This day you’ll rue”
“It’s the ****** ward”
“For the both of you”
Poor Shaun is lost
Still holds my hand
Proceeds to take
That rubber band
Puts all his things
In his tray
Takes his cart
And walks away
Said not a word
And to his bane
We never did
See Shaun again
BOEMS BY JA 287
True story. Sadly, my roommate Warren didn’t make it. Written in hospital 2014.