Room Nine's the One in Three of Us

Cherry

By Silver Spun Sand

Mon, 13 Oct 2014
  • 2797 reads
11 comments
 
It’s only a programme on TV, love;
it’s not real.  No cause for alarm.
Them sirens aren’t outside; only 
sparrows on that branch.  See? Think 
they envy you this weather...warm
as toast in here.
 
What’s up? You need the loo? And yet...
seems you couldn’t wait. Saw the light
flash outside your room, but was finishing
my tea. Nothing wrong with that, I’m sure
you’d agree...if you could. Not a lot worse 
than a lukewarm cuppa.
 
I’ll change your clothes – in a bit.  Can’t lift
you myself, or I would. ‘Health and Safety’
and all that red tape. Anyway...they say
you’re too far gone to notice. How about
you take another of them pills?  Have
a little nap...till tea-time.
 
What’s this, though? You’ve not touched
your lunch. Must be hard though, someone
like you, and I’d feed you myself, if I’d time –
not that we’re obligated to, mind.  Say – this
a photo of you – all dolled up in cap and gown?
Who’d have thought it...now?
 
And this one by your chair...is that your mum
by any chance? My giddy aunt! Don’t see that
these days...hats with pretend fruit on, and
by her side, that dapper young man; your dad
I can only surmise.
 
You look a little lost, love, and no, I’ve not
forgotten you’re wet.  Have to wait now, though,
till the next shift change, but there you go...
you have a little weep.  It’ll do you good.
Heavens!  Wouldn’t I, too...if I’d forgotten 
to remember who I was.  
Certificate 12
Poem
Silver Spun Sand Poems
Unclassified

Comments

Submitted by Rhiannonw on

Hard read. My father-in-law is now in a nursing home, and the staff are so good – good to see young men so thoughtful, one is so good at chatting to him and understanding his responses and the things that interest him. Rhiannon

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Hello there, Rhiannon.  Once again, it seems, care of the elderly, and specifically dementia patients, is in  the news for all the wrong reasons.  I.e. On the front page of the Daily Telegraph is stated,  All Dementia Patients 'Face Poor Care'. 

Many thanks for reading, and I'm glad that at least where your father-in-law is being cared for, he is being treated well, and with the dignity, he, and all others like him, deserve and have a right to.

Tina

 

 

Submitted by Starfish Girl on

A scary thought that any of us might end up in such a place, it is only a job after all! Maybe if care assistants were paid at the level of company directors there would be little for us to fear in our old age.

Nicely done.

Lindy

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Thanks, Lindy.  Scary, indeed.

Tina

 

Submitted by hudsonmoon on

I haven't had to deal with this situation in my own life, buy need only be human to relate. Very moving, Tina. It's wonderful.

Rich

 

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Hi there, Rich. 

Unfortunately I have dealt with this situation more times than I care to remember.  But I do, and that's the tragic part.

My thanks to you for your words and empathy.

Tina

 

Submitted by Ray Schaufeld on

Very well timed Tina, there was a care home inspector on the news the other day saying she saw a lot of''awful care'. Yes more staff and better pay would help. What is wrong with the world of work? So many people are under pressure to do the work of two and then the system kicks the unemployed in the guts when there are no jobs to be found. Senseless.

Your poem brings home the 'one in three' situation very effectively.

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

Your comments, inspired, as ever.

Thank you, elsie.

Tina

 

Submitted by Philip Sidney on

Very sad,so many experiencing this, so little being done to change things. your writinghelps us to empathise with the 'victim' of this care.

Submitted by Silver Spun Sand on

I hope so, Philip, I do hope so.

Tina

 

Submitted by VeraClark on

This is unbearable, Tina. The narrator's reasonable voice with the contrast of her (bet she's a her) deliberate negligence. Have seen some residential horrors myself personally and professionally, can't cope with elder abuse. Written with much consideration and admire that you've restrained that old human friend anger in the writing.