Taking Care

~

a semi-circle of disparate chairs

here and there a shiny wheelchair

squeezed in-between

like a new dental filling 

amongst browning molars,

arranged thus

the occupants appear worn-out

in varying states of decline

resembling vehicles cannibalized

for parts peacefully awaiting the crusher

different models all pointing

in the same direction,

like old vehicles, age and damage

vary considerably due to

roads previously travelled,

some occupants start on the

second-turn whilst some require

a jump-start, some a nudge,

milky tea is the fuel of choice

drawn by the gallon from a

battered ‘Tommy Oliver’ 

scalding in the kitchen,

once a week, a special treat!

a local spare-time Sinatra comes

to croon hoping there’s still life left

in their hooded headlamps,

for his star-turn hour 

at least,

few kick out legs for his

New York New York

but some fragile chassis

might still tilt and sway

for the final song

each thinking back

to times long gone,

I lived this life, 

I did it My Way

*

© Graham R sherwood 06/23