Sophia That Morning 1969 Poem by Terry Collett

Sophia lies
on the late
Mr Cutt's bed
naked from
the waist down.

Benny puts on
his trousers
listening out for voices
from the passage.

He thinks he heard
someone call him
a few moments ago.

Shame you
have to go
Sophia says.

I am sure I heard
someone call me
he says.

Really?
she says.

Yes may have
been Matron
he says.

Sophia gets off
the bed and looks
for her underwear.

He having dressed
opens the doors gingerly
and peers out.

No one is there
just the TV sounds
coming from
the lounge up
the corridor.

Is it ok?
she says
getting dressed.

Yes no one about
he says
I'm going along
to see how
the old folks are.

He closes the door
on her and walks
along the corridor
to the lounge
and enters.

Two old men sit there
one asleep
the other watching
the TV.

How are you?
Benny says.

The old man
looks at him
I'm ok
what time is dinner?
he says.

Benny looks
at his wristwatch
an hour yet
Benny says.

Ok
the old man says
and turns to watch
the TV again.

Benny walks out
and back along
the corridor
and opens the door
of the late Mr Cutt's room.

She's gone
leaving the bed tidy
as it was before
or so it seems
from the bedroom door.