The Opiate, Summer Vol. 14
The Sheep Shearer Joan Struthers Strike three your pension is suspended CANCER IS TREATABLE The Sheep Shearer spoke I’m in the hospital in the cancer ward He told her There are people in here worse off than me Didit OH Yeah The TREATMENT continues continuing continuous continuously The Sheep Shearer ENDURED till the last bag of chemo Two bone marrow transplants and countless blood transfusions Till his doctor surrendered There’s nothing more I can do There’s nothing more that can be done for you! An ambulance will transport you to a hospice in your hometown shortly I got four weeks Didit, maybe a little bit more WELL I’m NOT saying FAREWELL now YOU CANNOT ACCESS YOUR SUPERANNUATION TILL NOVEMBER It was May Didit’s beloved Sheep Shearer died on the first of June The Sheep Shearer’s right hand and right arm was paralysed before his ambulance parked in the hospice car park YOUR PENSION IS SUSPENDED CANCER IS TREATABLE The social worker here says I don’t have any money left to pay for my funeral I’d like a WAKE at George’s house I’d like anyone to be there who wants to be there The Sheep Shearer was talking to his next of kin, his ex-wife he was on a call with George is his son No Didit’s with me That’s lovely of her she had said The Sheep Shearer quoted her to Didit soon after the call ended Didit’s my girlfriend Still? YEP she’s been my girlfriend for thirty-four years!
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