YISKA AT TEA TIME 1971

A GIRL ON A LOCKED WARD IN 1971

You hold
the corned beef sandwich
in your hand
bite it
sit back
and eat it.

The male nurse
puts down
another white plate
of sandwiches
fish
he says.

The Indian woman
looks at a sandwich
holds it
opens it up
stares inside
goes to put it down.

Can't do that
the nurse says
once you touch it
you have to eat it
he tells her.

She stares at him
her dark brown eyes
gazing at him.

If you touch
you have to eat
he repeats.

She takes up
the sandwich
and smells it
then bites it
and stares
at the sandwich
as if
it had offended her.

Benedict sits
next to you
and takes a sandwich
and bites.

You sense
his thigh next to yours
and an electric current
runs down your leg
and excites
your nerves.

The Scottish woman
moans about
the sandwiches
eyes the nurse
can't have sandwiches
without booze
she says.

Have to
the nurse says
haven't booze
on the ward.

The radio churns out
a Beatles' song.

You watch
the Indian woman eat
there is an element
of meloncony about her
that you feel
as sad
but sweet.