SPENDING TIME

Hospital poem ...

SPENDING TIME

Spending time in the hospital café I notice feet in the queue and the bend of children’s legs their soft elbows their happiness that at least there are hot chips the strain on their parents’ faces and everyone else’s Behind the high bay maries the swarm of young staff some friendly some just friendly enough There are small kindnesses a dropped item collected up a coffee carried to a table A small woman on a regular routine sits in her usual corner falls asleep folded uncomfortably Another surreptitiously dozes or meditates upright hands loose on thighs her teacup an almsbowl

© Lizz Murphy