Secure! Aren’t I?

Carefree, beach, surf,
Laughter, sun, warmth,

Heavens adjusting, looks like rain,
what will I do?

no coat, no umbrella, no wellington boots,
t-shirt and shorts, not much use
get wet,
does that matter?
If I catch a cold, it does,
Pneumonia, serious then,

Miss work, get fired,
no insurance, no savings, no one else,

Collect rubbish, sell it, not much use,
No money,
Does it matter?
If I can’t pay rent it does,
Eviction, serious then,

no second home, no caravan, no car,
the Shelter, in the city,
no spare bed,
Does it matter?
The Underground, a space,
in the corner, curl up,

kicked hard, sharp, pain,
ambulance, too slow
ED, too far,

Floating,
sand, ocean, sun,
before the rain, a
faded presence,
warmth, laughter, hugs, joy,
indistinct echoes,
drift away,

Does it matter,
Passing on, serious then?

© Andrew Tomlinson