Sophia and Benny One Morning 1969

Sophia had no interest in philosophy 

and none about Marx. 

she loved sex and that

 was her yardstick 

regarding life 

and a sideline 

after work. 

She followed me 

as I went about my work 

at the Lodge 

preparing the old men 

for their baths before dinner 

or before teatime. 

She was in Bob Atkins’s room 

going about her domestic chores, 

when I entered with fresh towels. 

We could go it here, 

she said, 

pointing to the bed. 

What? 

I said, 

eager to get away. 

We have sex here now, 

she said. 

Don’t think so, 

I replied, 

moving away.

 Why not? 

she said. 

I’ve no time to spare; 

I have men to bath, 

I said. 

They can wait 

can’t they? 

she said, 

almost pleading. 

No such luck, 

I said 

and left the room 

and proceeded down 

the stairs to prepare Sidney 

for his bath, 

and as it took him ages 

to walk from the lounge 

to the bathroom, 

I needed every moment 

I had left. 

Perhaps later, 

she said down the stairs. 

I didn’t bother to reply 

and went into the lounge 

to get Sidney up out of the chair 

and on his way. 

The morning sun 

came through the lounge window, 

and I waited patiently 

as Sidney made his way 

across the desert of lounge, 

others said nothing, 

some were asleep,

And I had my timetable 

to keep.