A and E

Tanka written after five hours in the local Accident and Emergency Department on Monday. Avatar is of Leieceter Royal Infirmary during an attack by a knife weilding man. We saw four incidents.

Every second drags

among the walking wounded

waiting for repair.

The battered and the bruised

praying it is their turn next.

 

03/06/19

Here is a link to a real incident that happened in this A and E unit:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/chilling-cctv-shows-man-stabbing-13134096

Author's Note

Reviews

[kentuck14]

John,
Hope you are doing better? Did one of your poems attack you!!!???
T

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed it bit my leg off Tom. I am now in remission. Cheers Tom.

[Edie Blue Starfish]

this is a sad reminder of our reality
sometimes time stands still in those moments when tragedy hits and the memory is forever captured within our minds

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes that is true Edie. We saw some of real life in the A and E department and it was not pleasant. Makes us feel so fortunate. Many thanks.

[jacob erin-cilberto]

life is so fragile...especially nowadays with so many random shootings and stabbings...
such a sad state of life we live in.
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

A five hour stint in A and E would tend to make most agree with you Jacob. I'd hate to be attending in Detroit, Chicago, London or other world cities. Many thanks.

[andrew mitchell]

We are all just a number really when life is pushed to the edge, and in the balance we rely on us being taken care of, often or not we are found in the queue waiting.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed Andrew. We waited five hours in chaos. They have an electronic aboard with your allocated number so you can track progress. Only trouble being priority cases getting allocated a head of you keep changing your position. A bit like torture! Many thanks.