It’s the eighties and a psych hospital;
Nursing Assistant – I made many beds.
Induction included restraint training -
Safety first – ignore delusional heads.
A position from behind the patient
And with arms held tightly against his chest:
Certainly easy in demonstration;
Now next time reality gets the test.
So an unavoidable incident -
The patient, a slight lad of teenage years,
Restrainable when snooker table balls
Became missiles, source of disruption and fears.
Instructions adhered to – arms pinned to chest;
Instantly followed by a somersault…..
Lucky landing on my back without pain,
While staff appeared and covered this default...
I slipped, I thought as I sat out of sight
And slowly restored shattered dignity.
However the patient found me next day;
He, to make amends with some charity
confided his brown belt in Aikido;
(And about which I subsequently read).
Vigorous handshake with apology
While he patted me consolingly on the head.