Radio Sound

Before the lunch carts roll in
they nod off a while
stiff in rolling chairs parked
near the nurses' post

some with clear tubes some
bobbing heads or barely tapping
a foot to an easy radio sound
that floods down the hall
and stops by a minute

walls in light blue and
thin strips of metal where
they join the ceiling
speckled with holes
that mind their business

someone
slides a curtain along
by a bed
someone opens a door
and again there
is the radio song
careening small unseen
happy down the hall oh
Buddha Jesus Mohammed

now a window blind
is newly tilted for noon
plain light falls in
thank you

after lunch
some sit in the hall
a brief row of eyes like
bewildered steel or maybe
like pets unsure
where they'll be wheeled next

they do not own
the afternoon this
slow war that rolls forward
dark earth cut with trenches
puffs of cannon smoke
shooting up without sound

and they
sleep a little
the air is going blue
holy men
stop by each chair barely
touch a hand
in radio sounds
of rose and white yes

before the supper carts roll in
the older ones
sleep a while

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Copyright © Laverne Pannell 1997 All Rights Reserved

This page was update November 10, 1997

This page was revised April 11, 1997