Outside the Nursing Home

 

I wonder what deliberation preceded this arrangement.  I think the care assistant probably just stacked them like this without a thought, it being the usual way to gather these rather bulky things up tidily so that they don't get in the way. I'm sure there wasn't any idea of the impression given to the by-passer, which I've tried to describe.

The following little poem really needs no introduction. After all, pictures can say more than words.

Outside the Nursing Home

Mobility over

their life work's done

slowed to a stop

no longer pushed

so now going nowhere

silently stacked up

in their own tidy queue

awaiting collection.

 

The skip being full

with discarded cushions

once waterproofed mattresses

and uncertain items

these walkers remain

a little apart though

still upright for now

until along with the boxes

the black bags and all

everything's gathered

to be taken away.

Wondering why this little scene made me smile, I began thinking about humour.

Why should this be funny?

Perhaps it's the way the frames so readily fall into place, in order, stacking themselves in anticipation, almost as if aware of their need not to get in the way and to be ready for whatever's going to happen next – an example of unexpected anthropomorphism, which we often seem to find amusing.  

Or slight shock at the apparent disposability of something previously considered valuable, even essential?

None of which is really funny at all.

No need to say anything more. So I'll just leave it, and them, for however long they had to wait, and continue my own walking. Without help for now.