The Reformatory Poem by Jan Oskar Hansen

The Reformatory

Cottage needs a lick of paint
but the old man isn´t bothered
let flakes of paint blow
away layers by layers as
calendar years.
Let wind and rain strip cement off walls
till the old stones appears
a skeleton ancient as the land.
The old man has bought new shoes
but they do not give
springs in his steps, and feet ask
for the trust carpet slippers for
he will not go out in the rain
get his face wet in youthful jubilation
Old age has made his home
into a maximum security prison;
there is no escape.