Check

Staff meals :
restaurant quality, low prices
gratitude would have been expected,
like hell.
Never enough
always not first choice
well, the patients have priority – screw them.

Payment supposed to,
but difficult to extract.
Dodges, there were so many
the honesty box that wasn’t –
wallets left at home
shortage of funds.
It got to the point pique became irrelevant
like a radio not properly tuned, for so long
crackle is no longer heard.
Still, I listened for anything original, never expecting to
until a large man running to fat
came in one day and said he must owe quite a bit for meals
and
would I take a cheque.
Surprise was surprised
and turned to banter which asked if he had any ID
“ I’ve got a tattoo …I’ll show you later.”