when there’s no-one on duty
where there’s neither nurse nor doctor
its like the sinking of the titanic all over again
see every post deserted
and they assured us the lifeboats
would never be needed
they take our trust as well as our money
(our money)
we hear is taken in fraudulent expenses claims
by MPs
a large screen tv and the dry clean on the suit
never worn never bought never seen
the never had receipt
never more important
than the swollen legs of the patient come retaining fluid
and drowning in their own excessive waters
drowning
not waving but
where are the lifeboats the doctors and nurses
here
the ship’s in port
as the lungs are filled and liquid outs
dark lips
© Philip Johnson
Philip Johnson's work has previously appeared in: Poetry 24, The Ugly Tree; Poetry Scotland, Emergency Verse, Write Away, Caught In The Net, Red Pencil, Writer's Hood, Transparent Words; Emergency Verse and The Robin Hood Book.
