A Poem by our Writer in Residence, David Gilbert

Page 120

Susan has discovered moth-shaped holes
in her sweater. I’m reading Grayling on ethics
trying to remember by heart the cardinal
virtues. I drive her to Heather’s via
the A406 near where I took the kids

to archery. They could have been good but lost
interest. On the way home I stop off
at the Ally Pally Garden Centre. The roof
is leaking into a dozen carefully positioned
buckets. ‘They won’t spend money on it’

says Marie, and gives me a free cappuccino.
I’ve let go one project, am hanging on just
to another. Here comes the sun, milky
through the tall glass windows, the view blurry
from within. Then Chris comes past: ‘I can see

by your eyes you’re getting there’, then asks
for a pen so that he can write down his number:
‘I don’t do this for everyone… keep in touch
if you need to’. I open the book again.
Page 120: courage, wisdom, justice.

© 2024 David Gilbert  

David Gilbert is Writer in Residence at Bethlem Gallery, author of ‘The Patient Revolution – how we can heal healthcare’ (Jessica Kingsley Press) and ‘The Rare Bird Recovery Protocol’ (poetry collection).