Someone In The Room

 I’m sat with a patient,

In their room. It’s 12.55

The orientating clock says that clearly 

The patient knows I’m there

Medication has been given and the bed is comfortably made.

The patient is fighting sleep but desperately needs it .

Strange shapes hide behind the television and the wardrobe 

And I sit between them and the bed

The patient knows I am there

Silently I read the news on my tablet. 

I reply to an email and a message or two

And try to sound fatherly when I say

It’s time to sleep. 

The patient knows I am there. 

I watch a silent video about a blind horse

And a chubby gay New Yorker dances in the street

I read news on Gaza

And the reviews of a film I want to see

The patient approaches sleep but knows I am there

Someone is in the room.