Yiska's Morning 1971 Poem by Terry Collett

Yiska reads
the newspaper
brought in
by one of the nurses.

She is sitting
in the lounge
early morning
sun just peaking
through the shutters.

Benny sits beside her
what's the headline?
he says.

Nothing much
she says
same old miserable news
depressing stuff.

She puts
the newspaper
down on the table.

Benny looks at her
will we be able
to go out
in the grounds today?
he asks.

I hope so
she says
especially as its
a nice day.

Depends I guess
if they have
sufficient nurses
to spare
he says.

Want cigarette?
she says.

Sure that'd be good
he says.

She takes a packet
out of her
dressing gown pocket
and offers him one
and takes one herself
and lights both.

They sit
and smoke
how's your wrist?
he asks.

Still sore
she says
showing him
the bandaged wrist.

Well you will go
and cut it
he says.

It's how my mind
was at the time
you should have seen
the nurse who found me
she must have nigh
pissed herself
all that blood
and me sitting there
with the glass
staring at her
from the bathroom floor.

I heard the noise
and saw nurses running
that way
didn't know it was you
he says.

Now the quack's
put me down
for more ECTS
Yiska says.

Hate them
they don't help
gave me headaches
Benny says.

The nurse comes
and takes the newspaper
and walks off
swaying her hips.

Benny watches her
the cigarette
limp between his lips.