I just want to say that I really respect the people who work as care staff. Without their committed, conscientious and kind work this country would grind to a halt. They deserve to be recognised and paid a decent wage for the long, unsocial hours they are expected to work. This poem is not about those people.
I
need the toilet
is
how you greet me
two
staff take you
the
other inmates stare
thousand
yard - no one at home stares
at
the screen which dominates the day room
with
its Songs of Praise rerun
you
return
sit
I
need the toilet
Are
you sure? You've just been
staff
cover annoyance
sigh
take
you
the
hymns continue
you
return
sit
I
need the toilet
You've
just been I saw with my own eyes
I
need the toilet
I
ask the staff
apologise
somehow
the tv has changed to rolling 24 hour news
Theresa
May is telling me I need to tighten my belt
you
return
two
minutes sitting
with
me trying to tell you about the family and
I
need the toilet
they
take you again
mouths
flat lines
I
watch the screen
you
return
and
tell me you need to go to the toilet
I
have run out of words to talk at you
I
have run out of any stray detail of my life
or
of my children's lives
that
could possibly hook you
and
draw you back to us
from
the screen Theresa points her finger
I
kiss your head
and
leave
Here she is with probably her most famous song.
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