What Lies Beyond

What Lies Beyond

It used to be the main entrance

An imposing cathedral space

Of stone and glass and grand dimension

An echoing Victorian portal

That gave admittance to the wards beyond

And smelt of death and strong carbolic

Now updated with a modern make-over

Through a sensitive deployment

Of smart synthetic surfaces

To create a contemporary feel

With pastelled walls of recent artwork

And imposing copper sculptures

Which form conversation pieces

Within the information hub

Where a crowded hubbub

Of comings and goings

Of busy, active people

Throng the global-brand café outlet

Seeks soothing lattes and mochas

And a convenient power point

To recharge their mobile devices

And draw some sustenance

So they may locate the wandering wifi signal

And jack themselves in to the internet

Or gently cruise the mall of shops

The range of vending opportunities

And other outsourced concessions

To generate a retail thrum of activity

Bees within a busy hive

A brightly up-lit and down-lit arcaded atrium

An open meeting-space

With colour-coded signage

In a font of retro-vibe lower case

Indicating the way out

That leads from Waiting

Into the hospital itself

Where poorly people lie in bed

Hooked up to monitors and machines

Wire-connected

Jacked into tubes and treatments

Losing steady signal

Absorbing drips and drugs

And leaking out their body fluids

Seeking diagnosis of condition

And prognosis of their future

And amid the wounds, the illness and injury

There is tension and anxiety

And a rarely-distant fear

Of suffering and dying

Copyright Andy Fawthrop 2014