Terry Ireland | + Follow Poet |
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Cctv Extract

A fire in the kitchen?
I smell of smoke in the hall.
Somebody is very guiltily 
Washing down the wall.
What’s left of the toaster’s
Just a burnt plastic shell.
Some time last night
We almost had a mini hell.

Thank the Lord for CCTV.
A bit of a disturbing sight
He’d come in a bit tipsy
Just after midnight.
Put the toaster on the hob
Switched the wrong device  on
Seemed blithely unaware that
The smoke alarm had gone.

He’d sat drinking tea
Supremely unaware 
Of the flames and smoke
Swirling around his chair.
A pajamaed figure appears
Smoke alarm must have alerted
Situation quickly sorted 
Potential emergency averted. 

White faced and anxious
Sitting with his dad and me
As we all sit and watch
The  Closed Circuit Tv.
He’d been doing so well
Getting back on track
But, three steps forward
And two steps back.

Give credit where it’s due,
Criticise where it’s earned,
Put it down to experience,
Just another lesson learned.
Mending broken soldiers 
We all voluntarily chose
Win or lose its a gamble
Last night it was close.

Copyright © Terry Ireland | Year Posted 2023

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Ilene Bauer Date: 7/30/2023 2:40:00 PM you've told this tale very powerfully, terry... Login to Reply Terry Ireland Date: 8/4/2023 4:44:00 AM Thanks ilene

Speaks Volumes Date: 7/30/2023 7:15:00 AM One day at a time. Admired your poem Terry. Fire alarms sure are life savers. I guess the CCTV was a necessity in the circumstances. Must be doubly hard for vets to get on top of excess drinking. Your poem an eye opener. Best wishes. Login to Reply Terry Ireland Date: 7/30/2023 8:35:00 AM Thanks Wen, this is a success story. 3 years on hes now rehoused and with the help of his parents now has full custodh of his kids. Upto now he’s dry and drug free. Still under the eyes of social services, but doing well, and working full time. Makes it all worth while.