Sunday, 20 April 2025

Tu n'es pas encore prêt

We got off the bus with a few
other locals and tourists
in our athleisure wear
ready for our Saturday morning courir dans le parc
excited to take part in a new country

We passed some private planes and I saw
the Aérodrome sign which formed the course

Five minutes from the start and as usual
I need the facilities, follow some others
heading into the low brick
building next to the bag drop area

It's dismal in there but I make out
symbols for ladies and gents
head to the right and push through the door

Dim yellow lights, stink of bleach
make out long rows of beds home to
writhing and moaning figures
before a huge orderly shouts at me
waves a fist, shoves me in the back
through the door into the reception

It's one minute to nine
and on the way out see a sign reading
'St Roch Maison des Invalides'
and beneath it some small print

No comments:

Post a Comment