THE EXERCISE WALK.
Posted: August 27th, 2012, 2:33 pm
The dense woods
outside the locked ward
were drenched in snow
as you and others
walked in twos
between the snow
laden trees
that cold morning
guided and guarded
by three nurses
wrapped in thick coats
Christine said
I’m freezing
why do we have to go out
walking on a day like this?
exercise
the plump nurse
behind you said
can’t have you
stuck indoors
on a nice day
like this can we
you stared
through the woods
as you walked
wondering when
the snow had fallen
in such quantity
Christine shivered
and pulled the collar
of her coat tighter
around her neck
don’t need the exercise
she muttered
need warmth
and love
she moved closer to you
put her arm
under yours
lay her head
against your shoulder
as you walked
over the uneven ground
we could always
make a break for it
you said
and hide in the woods
no you don’t
the nurse said
I’ve had enough
of your escapes
better than being
frozen to death
here in this
march of the dying
Christine said
don’t exaggerate
the nurse said
the doctor ordered
you all to exercise
to clear your minds
I need my mind mended
not frozen
Christine said
better to freeze than
have your brain fried
by the ECT
you said bitterly
the nurse sighed
we are in a bad mood
today aren’t we
you sensed fresh snow
fall on your head
and face
more fucking snow
Christine moaned
snowflakes settled
on her hair
and soon
it was difficult
to see
the surrounding trees
best get a move on
the thin nurse
at the front said
or this lot’ll freeze
and the plump nurse
behind you said
let’s get a move on then
and made hurrying gestures
with her hands
as if you were all chickens
being guided back
to the hen house
if my freaky ex-fiancé
hadn’t left me
at the altar
I wouldn’t be here
Christine said
I’d be on my honeymoon
the nurse said nothing
but continued making
her gestures
where were you going to go?
you asked
somewhere warmer
than this
Christine said
and took your hand
in hers
her woollen gloves
touching your cold
white skin
come on you two
you heard
the plump nurse sigh
as a grey dullness
filled
the tree stroked
cold sky.
outside the locked ward
were drenched in snow
as you and others
walked in twos
between the snow
laden trees
that cold morning
guided and guarded
by three nurses
wrapped in thick coats
Christine said
I’m freezing
why do we have to go out
walking on a day like this?
exercise
the plump nurse
behind you said
can’t have you
stuck indoors
on a nice day
like this can we
you stared
through the woods
as you walked
wondering when
the snow had fallen
in such quantity
Christine shivered
and pulled the collar
of her coat tighter
around her neck
don’t need the exercise
she muttered
need warmth
and love
she moved closer to you
put her arm
under yours
lay her head
against your shoulder
as you walked
over the uneven ground
we could always
make a break for it
you said
and hide in the woods
no you don’t
the nurse said
I’ve had enough
of your escapes
better than being
frozen to death
here in this
march of the dying
Christine said
don’t exaggerate
the nurse said
the doctor ordered
you all to exercise
to clear your minds
I need my mind mended
not frozen
Christine said
better to freeze than
have your brain fried
by the ECT
you said bitterly
the nurse sighed
we are in a bad mood
today aren’t we
you sensed fresh snow
fall on your head
and face
more fucking snow
Christine moaned
snowflakes settled
on her hair
and soon
it was difficult
to see
the surrounding trees
best get a move on
the thin nurse
at the front said
or this lot’ll freeze
and the plump nurse
behind you said
let’s get a move on then
and made hurrying gestures
with her hands
as if you were all chickens
being guided back
to the hen house
if my freaky ex-fiancé
hadn’t left me
at the altar
I wouldn’t be here
Christine said
I’d be on my honeymoon
the nurse said nothing
but continued making
her gestures
where were you going to go?
you asked
somewhere warmer
than this
Christine said
and took your hand
in hers
her woollen gloves
touching your cold
white skin
come on you two
you heard
the plump nurse sigh
as a grey dullness
filled
the tree stroked
cold sky.