Mrs Jenkins, Blue Zone, Ward E.

She shakes her hand, no
Visitors to lift her spoon
To wet her wise mouth.

Our so-called National Health Service

I need to do more

Than describe how

It feels to be

Ill. Ill people

Know that and

Well people

Dont care or

Need to-unless

They’re doctors or

Nurses. Then

They do but

Time is scarce

No leisure for

Poetry or Patience

To untangle its

Worth hidden in

Pain’s twisted knots.

No, timepoor,

Drug-rich, cut

Off the knots,

Throw the

Bits of rope

Away, buy

Some new

Rope, sew it

On, nevermind

The seam-

Scar, quick

Job done.

To untie the

Knot involves

Understanding

And immersion

In the problem.

Yes, the rope may break at the seam later

But the knot was confusing.