they’re mad today
~
col-en is calling me fran-kay
over and over
because he likes the sound of it
fran-kay ha-ha-ha
fran-kay ha-ha-ha
~
get under the shower bob
use the soap bob
wash under your arms bob
wash between your legs bob
wash your behind bob
use shampoo on your hair bob
bob will be leaving us soon
he's moving on
to independent living
~
alice has stolen some money from staff
and they’re talking about it around her
as if she isn’t there
and it looks like her paranoia is rising
one said
it’s obvious
she’s agitated because she’s feeling guilty
if we just keep on at her for a while
she’ll give it back
she won't hold out for long
when she knows that we know
~
the little gnome
is having an out-of-town ultra-scan
on an ulcer
in the car he bops
like a teenage fiend
inhales the music
on saturday morning video shows
and now the radio has tuned him in
go-go little gnome
just you go
~
paul
paul
she still calls me paul
I didn’t take it
the other one took it
be nice to me paul
paul
can I have a cold coffee
and my cigarette
please paul
~
they’re all mad today
hurry up
knock-off-work o’clock
~
-
Author:
Frank Prem (
Offline) - Published: May 13th, 2018 01:23
- Comment from author about the poem: Franks Psychiatry Pt 5 - hostel life.
- Category: Unclassified
- Views: 11
Offline)
Comments2
Such a sad situation.
Getting a lot worse, I think GF.
I looked up hostel we don't have that word here) and it said lodging for travelers, but I get the impression that is a home for senior citizens. I worked in one as my first job. Rewarding but often heartbreaking. I'm definitely going to have to go back and read your past posts. Thank you for sharing your experiences.
Hi SLR.
Thanks for your response. The 'hostel' is equivalent to a 'ward in the community' for long term mentally ill people. It has a rehabilitation function (slow, long term), and also a 'legacy' function with some clients from the former mental hospital asylum that was closed down some years back.
Some of the folk are a fair age, but clients as young as in their 30's also pass through.
Hope you enjoy the previous poems if you look them up.
Cheers.
Thank you so much for the explanation. The context helps me relate with the poems. I admire your dedication to help those in such dire need. I've had experience with mentally ill people myself. We have hospitals here specially for them. The doctors experiment with different meds and treatments to find what works with each one. Some patients are short term care but others stay a long time. Heartbreaking. Thank you so much for what you do. I'll definitely be reading your other work.
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