NIMA'S VISITOR 1967

A BOY VISITS A GIRL IN A HOSPITAL FOR DRUG ADDICTS IN 1967

The nurse said
Nima's in
the garden

outside the
hospital
mental wing

so I went
to see her
there she was

on the grass
all sprawled out
how are you?

I asked her
how I look
she replied

that bad huh?
she nodded
and sat up

her hair tied
back loosely
her black dress

was screwed up
got a smoke?
she asked me

sure I have
so we both
had a smoke

from my pack
how's treatment
for the drugs?

slow process
like dying
she told me

any news
from your home?
Mother came

on Tuesday
all alone
what'd she say?

not a lot
she's a doc
talked to them

more than me
just the same
usual

moany talk
let's go walk
she told me

can you go?
I asked her
in the grounds

I'm allowed
so we walked
and we talked

and we joked
and we smoked
then hidden

by the bins
at the back
we soft kissed

and caressed
lips to lips
hands holding

tightly and
all the rest.