AFTERNOON SIESTA 1959

KIDS AT A NURSING HOME IN 1959 RUN BY NUNS FOR SICK OR CHILDREN RECOVERING FROM ILLNESSES OR ACCIDENTS.

After the afternoon siesta
one legged Anne
with the aid
of Skinny Kid

got off the camp bed
under the out door shelter
and crutched her way
across the lawn

to their favourite
white round metal table
and plonked herself
in one of the chairs

the Kid did likewise
the other kids woke
and moved back
into action

and went either
on the swings or slide
or sat on tables
around the lawn area

look at them
like the waking
of the dead
Anne said

what was it
T S Eliot said?
I don't know
what did this guy say?

the Kid asked
never thought death
had undone so many
or something like that

it's from one
of his poems
o I see
said the Kid

Colm sat
at the table
with Lulu
what do you

two want?
Anne said
Sister Paul said
we can sit

where we like
so we're sitting here
Lulu said
how's your arse

off for spots then
or is it burns?
Anne said coldly
it's cruel to mock her

Colm said
who asked you
to open
your cake hole Colm

go back to sleep
Anne said
Sister Paul said
all children

at the nursing home
are equal
and can sit
where they so wish

Lulu said
and I'm not saying
about my burns
or showing you

as if I'd want
to see your burns
on your arse Lulu
although the Kid here might

do you want
to see her burns Kid?
Benny shook his head
no I've no desire

to do so
he said
I'm telling the nuns
you're being

unkind to us
Lulu said
me too
Colm said

unkind?
well all I did
was asked after
the burns on your arse

if that's unkind
I won't ask no more
Anne said
Lulu and Colm

up and left the table
and ran across the lawn
towards the home
well that's

them gone Kid
just us now
anyway I've seen
her backside

as she gets ready
for bed each night
Anne said
want to wander Kid

along to the beach
before the penguins
come out
to bollock us

for unkindness?
sure
the Kid said
shall I get

your wheelchair?
he asked
no I'll crutch my way there
just keep an eye

I don't fall down
Anne said
so they up
and moved along

the path between
the avenue of trees
and out the back gate
and along the path

to the beach
where she sniffed
the air
smell that Kid

that's the best smell
you can get
sea smell
salt fresh

fecking salt
into your lungs
and bloodstream
they go along the beach

and over sand
and pebbles
and he helped her down
onto the pebbles

and put her crutches
beside her
and sat down himself
o this is the life Kid

away from the sick
and wanton
and the fecking
penguin nuns

the virgin queens
the Kid said nothing
but stared
at the sea and ships

and gulls
and the wind
in his hair
and sat

and let his eyes
wide stare.