At the entrance of the pharmacy a dead sparrow,
no one seemed to notice this tiny death.
The bird just lay there with folded wings and eyes
suitably closed, ready to be put in a coffin.
I told a shop assistant about it, she swept the bird
with a broom, into the tall grass.
There were many women inside, talking about
prescription medicines for aches and pains, they were
mostly middle-aged and middle-class and had not yet
realised that senility comes at a price.... Pain.
Shelves full of revitalizing creams, promising a young
glow, sagging faces bought this over-priced stuff,
when a bit of olive oil on a cotton swab would be more
effective, but won't smell this sweet...
And vitamin pills that would bring spring in your steps
and would bring back the long gone glint in your man's
eyes.... now he plays golf all day.
I kept thinking of the dead bird and nature's natural order,
It is OK to be tired when old.
