saddened by the world and the workings of men
wounded and weary and fragile
seething with rebellion
pretty things he noticed though only in the abstract
like special silences shouting indecipherable
not unintelligent just struggling
with the anguish of abandonment
and the nights began to tumble
as he stumbled through the cries in his head
through the wretched corridors and landings crammed
with broken souls with criminals and the collective burden
of spent love and dead words
with no kindness even beneath moonlight
he absented himself
Braver than most they discovered him
savagely still
silent
a ragged strip of soiled cloth tethered to the bunk
secure around his throat
gone deep into the jigsaw-puzzle of prowling ghosts created
by this place
barbaric
quiet for now
bestsupport.org.uk 