Some Ship of Fools.

There was the window
By the far off wall
Where you used to stand
Gaping at the grounds
Below, the tall trees,
The fields covered in
Snow, the birds braving
The cold to fly down
To the crumbs of bread
Thrown out by patients

Through the bars of the
Open windows strung
Along the side of
The Hellside mental
Asylum. The birds
Knew nothing of the
Madness, nor cared as
Long as the crumbs were
On the white carpet
Chilling to the touch

And feel. You watched them
Mouthing silent words,
Gesturing with your
Hands like birds flying,
Trying to recall,
Remembering the
Cold November when
Your father had you
Committed here, put
Away, fearing your

Mental state and low
Sexually active
Moral decline would
Harm the family
Name and you recall
The stern look in his
Dark eyes, the bass voice,
The poking finger,
The whole circus act
Shut off from the world,

Closed out from spying
Eyes, hoping you’d fade
Away, hidden safe
Behind walls, beneath
A dark blue sky. There
Were occasional
Visits, the brief stays,
Mother sitting there
In a chair, watching,
Anxious, waiting for

The time to go, small
Token gifts given,
But taken away
By Nurse Grieves, locked in
The cupboard, stashed for
Other patients at
A later time, a
Reward, a bribe for
Good behaviour,
Instead of the long
Sleeved jacket, the drugs,

The locked cell, the smell
Of urine mingled
With harsh carbolic,
The loud laughing, the
Bathing, the whole ship
Of fools sailing out
Upon the turbulent
Water, no place for
You, but there you were
Committed, labelled
Insane, a lost soul,
A rich man’s daughter.