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