In the dementia wing
which is bright and clean and where
there is nothing else
to frighten you
with such irrational dread
but old men
whose eyes follow and whose tongues flick
where one might spit
and one might strike
where they slide about the room
hugging the line of the furniture
or the walls looking for safety
or for exit
Unpredictable they zigzag towards you
where you sit beside the chair of your sleeping mother
and you still yourself and hold your breath
and hope
to remain unnoticed
But if you brave yourself
to take their proffered hand as they pass
you find with a physical surprise that they are warm
and dry to touch
smooth and firm
that the contraction of their still strong muscles
around your arm is comforting
and they are simply curious
and interesting like snakes
Mikaela Castledine 