I Wish That I Was Dreaming! Poem by Joe Hughes

She opens her front door,
A stench of urine fills the air,
A dirty house, a coat of dust,
Darkly burnished silverware.

A face so lined, so aged,
Dirty spectacles on nose,
Front teeth missing, others blackened,
Yet proudly does she pose.

'Oh yes', she says, ' I'm happy,
I've got Charlie up the stairs.
He's lovely, Oh! so timid,
I know, for me, he cares.'

I do my job - she chats, I joke,
She relates times old, now fled.
I say hello to Charlie,
A lurcher on her bed.

The day is warm, the heating on,
Each light on in every room.
Her world is made by others,
She dances to their tune.

I pack my things, prepare to go,
My life so full of meaning.
She shakes my hand, she thanks me lots,
I wish that I was dreaming!