Which Side Of Death.

Which side of death 

are you from? 

the old man said. 

Take no notice, 

the nursing assistant said 

in whispered words, 

he's got dementia. 

I ignored her 

and she walked on 

to attend to other visitors.

This side of death, 

I told the old man. 

Shame, 

he said, 

I wondered 

if you have news of my Belle 

who died last year 

or week ago, 

and wondered 

if she were in 

paradise or hell. 

Paradise I think, 

I replied, 

saying what first 

came to mind. 

That does surprise me, 

the old man said, 

I thought b***h Belle 

was sure as s**t was s**t 

doomed to hell.