HALF LIVING HALF DEAD 1916

AN OFFICER ON HOME LEAVE WITH SHELL SHOCK AND THE MAID.

The nurse
has left the room;
Polly tucks
George into bed,
settling him down.

Quieter now
after the shouting
and disturbance earlier.

He had been convinced
Quigly was out
in No Man's Land:
out there
he had said,
pointing over
the grounds at dusk,
moonlight
making shadows.

I'll send help for him,
Polly had said.

Don't loose
more men on that,
George had shouted.

His parents came out
rushing onto the verandah
to see what
the fuss was about.

The nurse had tried
to quieten George,
unsuccessfully.

Laughter from guests
in the house
brought George to tears.

Quigly's bought it,
George had moaned.

His eyes were large
and staring out
at the grounds
where stars
had glimmered.

Polly had managed
to get him back
in the house;
the nurse following behind,
eyeing them both.

George lies
with eyes closed.
Polly leans over him.

She wishes he was
as he was before the War
and his time at the Front
and the mental breakdown.

He'd have had her
in his bed by now,
and have humped her
to joy and back.

Now he lies silent,
eyes shut.

She leans down
and kisses his forehead.

Him back
from the Front
half living,
half dead.