The Obsessive

The 'obsessive' selects a cartoon of milk from the back of the chiller
but always checks the date thoroughly  
incase it's out of date and poisons them

they'll take the 7th lid from the stack at the coffee machine 
same with the cup selection 
just in case
who knows who's touched them!

they still wear face masks
carry a bottle of hand gel and use it regularly 
and always keep 2 meters apart at all times
despite being quadruple jabbed

they don't take the top newspaper from the stand
anyway that one won't be right
they'll have find a perfect copy
a non-creased copy

they'll give me the penny
not that they ever go over of course
then pay the balance on a card
because? who knows!

they're seen frantically tapping at their pockets
rummaging through their bags to find their keys again
then 'zap' the car for the fifth time 
just in case it hasn't locked and someone 'knicks' it

people who don't know say "I bet their kitchen cupboards are tidy
I bet the whole house is beautifully ordered
and that they follow you 'round with a cloth
I bet their hands are scrubbed clean"

these thoughts are intrusive thoughts
compulsive actions
this is intense anxiety and distress
and is over-thinking 
O.C.D.
it's a mental health disorder
...and I hope they find some peace from it

Who'd Blame Her?

Who'd blame her?
it's early morning 
and a nurse
just off a night shift
pops into the local petrol station
grabs gin and tonic in a can saying
she knows it looks bad 
but that she is knackered and she's off to bed!

who'd blame her?
she 
having compassionately cared for the sick all night
helping save lives 
maybe the lives of your loved ones 
expertly tending...
she
a trained professional
serving others
giving
providing
dispensing...

care
who'd blame her.

I don't
I told her I hoped she slept well!

(Haiku)

Forget the cost-a
livin'! They've gone and put the 
Costa prices up!

Russian Roulette With His Addiction

Lucky for the alcoholic 
the debit card doesn't ask for the PIN every time.
Playing 'Russian roulette' with his addiction!


(Haiku)

The greatest pleasure 
is to give not expecting 
payment in return

6 AM And Up

6am and there are people up who really shouldn't be!
"That man in the van"
waiting
expressionless 
deep-set eyes staring out at me as if dead
not moving
not blinking
only sparking back to life when the coffees arrive

"The ditherers"
the ones who've managed to get up
...just
who spent 5 seconds choosing an outfit
managed to get the car going
managed to grab the newspaper 
who look like they're awake 
but spend 10 minutes walking up and down the shop
reaching out with certainty for something 
then pulling back
returning to the item they refused five minutes ago
Oh that'll do!

"The lads"
the builders
the roofers and 'sparkies'
those keeping our world turning 
those who have obviously been out until the 'wee-small' hours
chatting up the women
drinking the bars dry
showing off their dancing skills
'hair-of-the-dog'
now on automatic pilot and off to work!

"The agricultural workers"
arrive in a tractor that's bigger than your house
work in a different time zone
26 hours a day
8 days a week
shorts and T-shirts all year round
brushed hair?
nah!
breakfast on the hoof?
oh yes!
Out the night before?
naturally!
Hand fulls of energy drinks and sandwiches
as preparation for the next 26 hour shift!

"The white-van-men"
knacked from the previous 12 hour shift 
4 hours kip
up and at it again
coffees and energy drinks for todays 12 hour shift 
cafine - loaded
fuel - loaded
van - loaded
let's go!

There are exceptions of course.
The nurse just off a night shift
happy to be going home
happy to be off to bed!
the happy retired folk
every day is a day off!
let's get up early and drive 'round slowly
"we can't lye-in anymore anyway!"
the happy holidaymakers 
we've paid for the hotel
we couldn't sleep because of the bed 
so we have popped out for a paper before the all-in breakfast!
and the friendly shop worker
happy to be there
happy to see you
happy with his lot!

...usually!