The agenda begins, The door left ajar is knocked, Cheery words spoke sinisterly, By his stern thin lipped keeper. Medication is administered, He is good, ‘Adjusted’. He is itinerated to his allocated chair, Away from the window too high to see through. He loads his fork gingerly, His mottled hands shake, The egg slips from atonic lips, As goldfishes laugh bawdily. And 4 clocks tick. The cow bell rings and he is ushered away, In to his favourite part of the day. A chance to complete a crossword, And to preen the dead man’s plant. Vera and Bill argue over chess, Bill is adamant he’s ebony, Vera stares her concaved eyes, And Bill concedes. As 4 clocks tick This Alms house soon will close. Decided by a fresh faced council man, Its progress for the Kosovan’s As darkness falls over ‘Sunny Brook’ Like a Greek widows shawl. 4 clocks stop.