Magdalene One Night 1966.

She closed the curtains.

The world shut out 

until morning came.

She stood there 

the curtains were old 

the material and colour 

had faded to this dullness.

She turned and began to undress.

A busy day gone by 

work taken up 

hours of her finite life.

She put on her nightwear 

and made a mug of cocoa.

She sat in the one chair and sipped.

The restaurant had been busy 

and some of the customers

almost destroyed 

her faith in humanity.

Mother made cocoa like this 

She mused gazing at the mug

the taste on her tongue.

She would forgo 

her last cigarette.

Our past life is still there 

in our minds 

no matter how 

we try to forget