UNIT OF DEAD SOULS 1971

A BOY AND GIRL IN A PSYCHIATRIC UNIT IN 1971

Yiska knives
with finger
(pretend knife)

her blue veins
through pale skin
I watch her

her finger
pretending
to slit wide

the thin arm
only your
artery

will do much
I tell her
if you slit

that open
it will shoot
from the heart's

living pulse
I did it
once before

she informs
but some nurse
(piss her a*s)

had me down
and saved me
with her skill

we sit still
in the ward
with others

(broken souls
as were we)
watching some

dull TV
hearing time
tick us loud

till tea and
sandwiches
cheese and ham

or red jam.