LONG AGO TALK
Mr Bedlows
showed you around
the old folk’s home
the day had begun
at the new job
the smell of urine
and old age
drifted by the nostrils
the dimly lit passageway
he opened a door
morning Mr Grigg
morning Mr Mash
he said
to the old men
sitting on beds
then off
you both went again
more doors opened
other old men
welcomed
downstairs and up
the passageways
like circles
of Dante’s Hell
the old men gazed
at you as you entered
their aged eyes
followed you
about their room
you the young guy
the wet-behind- the-ears
young thing
they’d seen wars
fought in trenches
seen men killed
blown apart
mind damaged
body’s crippled
soul’s laid bare
smoke and death
in the air
I’ll leave you with Sidney
Mr Bedlows said
and went closing the door
trapping you
with smell and age
and Sidney’s stare
half hour later
having cleaned him up
and washed and dried
and clothed him neat
you set him on his way
with walking frame
and slow pace
for him
another dreary day
for you the beginning
the other men
to coax
or dress
or wash
or comb the hair
or set them
on their walk
with old timers
chatter
or idle
long ago talk.
