DURING THIS VISIT

I am a layman laid up
with a very dodgy ankle

that winced about Paris
for almost a week with

every footaghhhhhhhfall.

Now it's the A&E;
for me.

The electronic noticeboard
flashes up its what nots

faster than I
can scan.

I barely catch CQC
Good( shadow )Rating.

Two wheelchairs
(peopleless)
chat about the this of that

typical wheelchair chit-chat.

A portable X-ray machine
pretends to be a giraffe.

"oooooOOOOK...we are going to get
Geoff the Giraffe to have a look at that!"

The child smiles
through the pain.

The screen peppers me
with possibilities.

Extremely likely?
Neither Likely nor Unlikely?
Etc., etc., etc.

My mind opts for
a simple I Don't Know.

"Breast." says the screen."

"Max Fax & Orthodontics."

"Re-hab shouldn't be boring!"

A questionnaire asks me
to think.

Big mistake.

I start to think.

Pain & Boredom
turns these hospitalised facts

( what ever they mean? )

into a something only
my brain can understand.

"And now, straight in at No.!
with a fantastic new single it's...

...Max Fax & The Orthodontics
with the glorious bouncy

BREAST!"

"MORTALITY by
The Upper Quartile

falls down one place to
No. 2!"

My shadow is feeling
very poorly at this

instant
in time.

Hasn't even bothered
to turn up.

There goes my good
(shadow)rating.

I think I'll switch
to silhouette instead.

I practice my Ogham.

SAT 4 APRIL
says the clock.

It's hands joined
together in prayer.

I switch
off my mind &

float
down
stream.

It was tough job going home from the evening shift
he would keep coming back before taking the lift
stand gazing intently at the office noticeboard
umpteenth time reading the roster word by word!

Not sure he had seen it right would find someone out
tell him please see my morrow's shift to dispel his own doubt
I want to be doubly sure haven't missed out something, mate,
please do me this favor I'll give you one cigarette.

Knowing him well that man would say for you can find it out
but one *** is not enough to clear all your doubt
will tell you the morrow's shift surely dear mate
only if at the canteen give me the treat of one omelette.

After the deal was fully done would end this funny affair
convinced of next day's schedule he would come downstairs
the night already was quietly deep with not a soul on the road
it had taken him quite some time to decipher the noticeboard!

When came the tram splitting the night below a crescent moon
he would raise his hand but strangely wouldn't board it soon
till someone would drag him in much against his will
knowing he would be stranded if he missed the last vehicle.

The dogs' bark welcomed him home as he reached its door
the neighborhood was in slumber known by buzzing snore
but then told him his riddled mind he certainly couldn't tell
if at all this was his home and he should ring the bell!

As he stood quite confused with the minutes growing more
light footsteps were heard inside a woman opened the door
he asked her if a man of his name was residing in that house
it's no time for such madness would pull him in his spouse!

here
i am in the kitchen and it is tidy
for once
the noticeboard is all dated last year
cats crawl around my feet

i haven't fought in a while
and you are happy

i used to think i was doomed
i thought i'd die before thirty
i thought not eating would take me

i never thought i would live
in a house half my own
with cinnamon and a chrome clean sink

i haven't fought in a while
and i am happy

A war memorial stands
Keeping guard at the end
Of an ancient High Street
Alone on a roundabout

From this historic spine
Of Flooring Centre and Bugdens
Run ribs of semis
With their suburban wives

I watch as my feet
Stamp down cracked pavements
Teenage schoolgirls
Giggle at a phone

At the village hall noticeboard
I read Parish Council minutes
Wondering at the secrets
Of the good who serve

Whilst against it all
The background hum
Of M3 traffic
Racing towards death.