Damaged for life

 

The house was drab and in need of paint

the curtains yellow with the stains of smoke

The garden lacked lustre, unkempt and ignored

as the gate swung to and fro in a whimsical wind

 

Inside it was stale, discoloured and unclean

full ash trays with old socks soaking in a tub

She sat alone smoking with a mug in her hand

propped up so as to see the comings and goings outside

 

A cat sheepishly shuffled about from chair to floor

dust covered surfaces denied any sense of shine

Her teeth were tarnished by constant tobacco use

her complexion sallow, worn and wrinkled

 

The room held a depressive atmosphere of inertia

a table lamp shade was damaged by a burn mark

A newspaper four days old lay on the floor unread

her son was upstairs asleep off a night shift

 

She suffered from depression and anxiety neurosis

alternating between high and low moods

A forced smile welcomed me into her rented council  home

as a girl she had been sexually abused by her father