Bad Start To Another Day 1959 Poem by Terry Collett

Anne entered the room
where the doctor was
with Sister Paul;
You followed behind.

Ah there you are,
said the nun,
the doctor wishes
to see if your leg stump
has healed sufficiently
to try on
your artificial leg.

The doctor looked
at me:
why is the boy here?
He said.

Because if he isn't here
I ain't,
Anne said.

It invades
patient privacy,
the doctor said.

If he goes I go,
Anne said.

The nun pulled a face:
it's how she is doctor,
Benny won't
get in the way.

All right,
the doctor said
unhappily,
lie on the bed please,
he added.

Anne handed me
her crutches
and lay on the bed.

The doctor pulled up
her dress and looked
at her leg stump
and felt it.

The nun looked
on frowning.

I stood by looking
at the doctor.

Does it hurt?
He said.

Most of the time,
Anne said.

Does it hurt
when I touch it?

Course it does
what do you
fecking think,
Anne said moodily.

Language Anne,
the nun said,
sorry about that doctor.

No need
to apologise
I know
what children
are like,
he said.

He fiddled
around more.

How long
are you going
to be touching my stump?
I told you it hurts,
Anne said.

The doctor sighed
and pulled down
her dress:
best give it
another few weeks,
he said.

He went over
and washed his hands
in the sink.

Right Anne you
can get up now,
the nun said.

Anne sat up
and gestured
for me to give her
her crutches
which I did.

Anne said:
can I go now
or do you want
to touch me again?

You can go Anne,
the nun said
eyeing her angrily.

Anne got off the bed
and crutched herself
out of the room.

I followed behind her
down the passageway
a bad start
to another day.