GREY FLYING BIRDS 1971

A BOY AND GIRL IN A LOCKED WARD IN A PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL IN 1971

The doors
are locked.

The wall clock goes
tick tock tick tock.

Yiska and I sit
in the lounge.

A nurse is cutting
the fingernails
of the elderly
Indian dame.

Yiska takes out
a cigarette
offers me one
and we light up.

The ward radio plays
a Rolling Stones song.

Two patients
play chess moodily.

Aren't you
going to dress
Yiska? a nurse says.

Yiska exhales smoke.

Shakes her head.

Pulls her nightdress
over her knees
just to please.

I feel her
beside me.

Thigh against thigh.

We'd almost made it
in the empty
ECT room
the night before.

Nurse almost
found us.

Benny don't forget
to take your pills
the nurse says.

I am thinking
of the near on sex
the night before.

Ok I say.

Yiska watches
the smoke rise.

Smoke rings rise.

Daddy did that
she says.

Made smoke rings.

F**k off
Bridget says
to the day kid
who comes
while his mother
works.

The nurse
moves him away.

All well
for another day.

Almost
Yiska says.

Almost
I say.

Narrow bed
but it would
have been fine
she says.

Hushed voice.

Smoke flowing out
with the words
like grey flying birds.

Reviews

[andrew mitchell]

Nice imagery Terry. not sure of the hospital location but an entertaining read.

[Terry Collett]

Thank you, andrew. Hospital gone now. housing there now.

[Hello, Goodbye]

Very curious poetic expression. The use of brevity is effective and the imagery is interesting in its slightly voyeuristic narrative.

[Terry Collett]

Thank you for reading & comments