In a home at ninety who has prospects,

who needs them?

better to accept one's fate

no matter how drastic.

Stanley never worked that one out,

he felt in charge of his situation

even that he'd created it,

running the show with all his employees,

his prospects therefore in order,

he could hire and fire

at leat criticize, always expecting more. 

 

In the cardigans of others he sat in state

fed as expected,

a newly adopted wife by his side,

briefly he'd become a soldier on leave again

catching the bus en route to rejoin his pals

who'd left sixty years before. 

Now he decided to leave once more

but was prevented like all the others there.

If he stumbled and fell his employees would help him

back to his room with the single bed

under the wedding picture.