Mindfulness
In the house warming
Klaus spoke about
his experience of moving
to the run down valley
a former mining town
where he now resides.
He recalled the first visit
to a doctor and noted
as he sat down the doctor
barely glanced his way
seemingly unable to take
his eyes from the computer
dominating his desk.
Klaus spoke politely
in his soft German accent
making no effort to hide
the wryness of his smile.
“When you have a moment
I will tell you the reason
I am sitting here.
It may be of interest to you.”
A day later I paid a visit
to a doctor too
it was an emergency
I’d thought I was lucky
to be given an appointment
so quickly on the same day
The young locum
sat down and started
to conduct a conversation
while fiddling with the printer
he opened the paper drawer
slamming it again and again
At some point I stopped
speaking he didn’t seem
to notice this at all
he apologised but now
his back was turned
away from me.
He phoned admin
and another person
entered the room
and I watched as the two
conducted an animated
discussion on matters
of computer technology,
and which of the doctors
had left the printer jammed.
I sat quietly listening,
it was pleasant enough
I suppose sitting there
listening to the discussion
and for the moment
I’d forgotten the pain.
