A FEW PARALLELS

Not something he’d admit to saying,

His privacy betraying….

But folks might know

An infected toe

Ain’t the best way of gaining!

–

His leg was involved before,

The other leg for them keeping score….

Could no longer do

What he’s been through,

A Security job came to the fore.

–

Was stuck at an in-and-out gate,

A madhouse when shift change made haste…

Flashing I.D.’s

At double-time speed,

Where laborers egged on work mates.

–

He grew increasingly sad,

He never thought it would be this bad…

Walking’s a chore

And isn’t fun anymore,

He’d ignored all the warnings he’d had.

–

The toe–twice as wide–

With ugliness undescribed…

His wife helps wash and dress

The smelly mess,

Putrid-looking for what lurks inside.

–

He thought he’d bounce right back,

After a weekend flat on his back…

Getting enough sleep

Generally keeps

Him running on the right track.

–

Doctors say it’s long-term

Recovery, which makes him squirm…

Not able to stand

For very long on demand,

He doesn’t want being infirm.

–

He worries about work,

Walking rounds he’d rather not shirk…

It has been weeks

Since he felt in the peak

Of condition to do ALL his work!

–

He fears the great parallel,

Will his working find its death knell…

How long will guys

Face unpleasant surprise,

When he can’t do the job very well?

–Jonathan Caswell