9. Social call

Ears ringing like he’s quit
a gig, back from tea & scones
with an old work colleague,
her three small kids. This
courteous hour of keeping
company with the living
has left him like a Western Front
victim. Do they not offer
parents post traumatic stress
pills? They cannot flee
their horror house of screams.
He is every child’s waking
nightmare. The casket lid open.
Him up, about, smiling.

@ianjmclachlan