NORTH INFIRMARY 1974

NORTH INFIRMARY 1974

Old man,

I never knew your name

Yet, I sent you to your Maker

With the smell of my tobacco

On your breath.

You must have loved that pipe

For at dead of night

In our shadowy hospital ward

You summoned up the courage

To ask me for a fill,

I packed your pipe

Full of the warmest Erinmore.

You thanked me with your hand

And slowly, you lit up a little piece of heaven

For yourself

As you drew in that first long smoke.

At four you signalled me

To put your pipe away

And when you held my hand

I knew your strength had gone.

Before first milking you departed

..........Leaving behind a young man

Warm, that in lonely hours

Lit a tiny halo on an old man's pipe.

JIM ARCHER