1913

In the year my father was born
emus roamed free
in the hospital grounds.

Tobacco leaves were harvested
in the hop fields and dried out
for the inmates to smoke.

Drawing Room Entertainment
came with the Shoobridge Family
with plates of bread
and quince jam.

Mongoloids were shown
how to tie their bootlaces
so they wouldn't trip
on the linoleum roses

and they danced to a hand organ
outside in the courtyard
until their socks grew tired.

© Karen Knight