of what used to be BHS, eyes slumped
like sleeping bags. A laminated sign
is tacked to the small mound
of everything she has left
courtesy of Bristol Waste, stating
that these items will be discarded
if they are not removed
within twenty four hours. She places it
on the pavement,
next to her board selling dreamcatchers
to passers-by, picks up
the two pounds forty in coppers
lining her damp guitar case
and with gloved but shaking hands
begins her accusing song.
© Penny Shutt
Dr Penny Shutt is a poet and psychiatrist from Cornwall. She writes about mental health, medicine and motherhood after recently becoming a foster mum to her nephew. Some of her poems can be found at www.pennyshutt.weebly.com and she tweets @drpennyshutt
