The Nursing Home
Unblinking eyes
And vacant stare,
With mind
Uncomprehending space,
That gazed
From out of time's despair,
Of leaden limb
And leaden face.
The window frame
Encased the East
Where Autumn's light
Was first to drain,
The only sound
The railway had
Was hollowed
When it herald'd rain.
She saw with limber step
The girl
Who nimbly picked
The sheaf of corn,
Who row by row
And stook by stook
In laughter
Crushed the stubble thorn.
She heard
The children's reckless laugh;
In love they came,
She watched them grow.
She gazed
From out an empty room
Where silently
She saw them go.
The train
Still travelled from the East,
Its hollowed sound
Again meant rain,
And locked
Into a window frame
Unblinking still,
Perceived the pain.