I had travelled back to the house where I had previously lived

Which was situated in an area that was slowly decaying

My younger brother was there which was a pleasant surprise

As he had been unwell but was now recovering with speed

 

I was introduced to my mothers carer who was named Alice

She was a plain girl who was taken to wearing shapeless clothes

Which reminded me greatly of The Chinese Cultural Revolution

She assured me that they were practical although lacking in style

 

I was given endless cups of tea and we discussed modern philosophy

As well as the local bus services that were declining as much as the town

My brother had invented an cocktail which was not sipped from a glass

But gently sucked from a piece of saturated brown cardboard

 

I spent the night at my mothers house as I always did

And shared a coffee with my brother and Alice at breakfast

My mother did not rise early due to her troubling condition

But I spoke to her before I left promising another near visit