Home?

 

But, why can’t I go home?

Yes,

over there,

outside,

look!

 

I am 83 & not stupid & I want to go home & you

are stopping me

 

What is the matter with me?

Nothing fancy like deprivation of liberties, capacity or best-interests

Just, stuck inside a hot building in June

and

sunshine through the window

Good, old-fashioned pathway failure, waiting, wasted times

and people

looking-on;

patients & relatives & staff

 

Tuning-in to the conversation;

 

Empathising with me for the tight spot I am in;

 

An old woman challenging her liberty

& I am

the system slave

 

Powerless

Effete

Pathetic

 

I can organise a scan,

Prescribe medicines

even,

when needed,

get-out the needle and thread to repair your damaged scalp.

Our bad – you fell while waiting, stuck.

But, the simple things

like,

Letting an old woman home.

are beyond my ability.

 

Impotent.

And, you know what…

This is a growth industry.

 

I sneak-off;

Her attention distracted

for a moment

by someone

or something else

down the corridor;

 

A stutter in the monotony of her captivity.