The floor in the waiting room was covered
By a carpet of rock hard ice and puffy snow.
Those who didn’t have skates broke hips and legs,
The ambulance driver had a busy day.
And enjoyed himself driving very fast.

When my name was called I couldn’t move, feet frozen,
Missed my turn while waiting for a blow torch.
Nudged a man beside me to ask the time.
His structure rattled and when the dust had settled
A heap of bones on the ice.

Someone remembered seeing him,
Sat there the year before last.
Malnutrition, the doctor expertly pronounced
And called her brother, the undertaker,
Who promptly came and took
Her ex-patient away.