Sunny day
that hospital
visiting day
she outside
in a chair
smoking a cigarette
I sat in a chair
next to her
wouldn't
let me out
she said
wanted to meet you
in London
but the docs
put their spoke
in the wheel
and the parents
are none too happy
about it
means
they have
to visit me
rather than I
go to them
I said nothing
let her speak on
get it out
of her system
she had this
dressing gown on
her hair tied back
in an untidy bun
bright red slippers
on her feet
if I didn't have
these cigarettes
I’d go completely
over the wall
with the other
fruit cakes in here
she said
they said
you were here
at the hall
I said
I went there first
Warwick said
you were here
bought you these
and I gave her
a pack of smokes
and a small box
of chocolates
she took the gifts
with her free hand
and placed them
beside her
on the grass
God you are good
to me
if we were in the City
I’d repay you
she said
no need
I said
given out of love
not lust
she smiled
guess so
she said
they keep
that small cupboard
locked now
she said
after that time
we had it off
in there
she said
I looked back
towards
the hospital ward
a few yards away
too small anyway
I said
she inhaled slow
on the cigarette
her eyes half closing
due to the smoke
do you really get
that church
tambourine
banging thing?
she asked
the essence yes
I said
not necessarily
the trappings
she stared at me
her free hand
in her lap
the other holding
the cigarette
to one side
I suppose people
need to believe
something
in this darn circus
of a world
she said
guess so
I said
she looked down
towards the road
some fifty yards away
where traffic
moved slowly by
and as she moved
she crossed her legs
a glimpse of thigh
caught my weary eye.