Outpatients – (The Cancer Ballads V)

The hospital outpatients waiting area

with its soft, high back leather chairs

has a sad silence with soft whispers

and mumbled chatter

as patients, when their names are called,

come and go

to the restricted room

for their weekly treatment of chemo

where inside,

they are treated to a cup of coffee,

a cup of tea, a chocolate biscuit and

a couple of hours of relaxing sleep.