The Passing of Edward

Martha was rudely awaken on Monday morning With the phone call we all dread “Mrs Palmer we regret to inform you That your husband Edward is dead” She thought that it was tactless The way she had been told Couldn’t they have said ‘passed away'? Instead of being so bold She dressed in her Sunday best It took her ages to get ready But she wanted to make an effort For her dear, departed Eddie When she arrived at the hospital She was taken to the ward Attached to the bed on a bulldog clip Was Edward Palmer’s medical record Edward was lying in the bed He just looked like he was asleep Martha took his hand in hers And she began to weep The patients in adjoining beds Said staff had had to disinfect Because Edward had taken short Had they no respect? Martha sat at the bedside and said “My husband has passed away” The patients resumed watching TV And didn’t know what to say A nurse arrived and said “It’s a shame that you weren’t here When he was asking for you It’s a pity you don't live near Don’t worry though cos I was here He didn’t die alone Whenever we tried to phone you All we got was an engaged tone” Martha suddenly remembered The umpteenth pointless phone calls To the lazy ‘cowboy builders' Meant to be pointing her garden walls Every time she phoned them It wasn’t any use Sometimes her complaints would be met By an endless torrent of abuse The nurse jolted Martha from her daydream By tapping her on the shoulder She glanced down at Edward And noticed he suddenly looked years older Martha said “I’ll be lost without him” And the nurse gave her a wry smile Then said “Some people will be coming for Edward In just a little while He’ll have to be moved Because we really need the bed” Martha recalled the other day A pillow still bearing the shape of a deceased patients head Martha said “I feel so lost I don’t know what to do” The nurse put her hand on Martha’s shoulder and said “The receptionist has something for you” Martha kissed Edward's forehead And said “My darling I must go I just hope you knew How much I loved you so” She wanted to remember Edward When he was full of life Now she was a widow No longer someone's wife She waited in reception Listening to the constant chatter She wondered how long she'd be waiting Though now time didn’t matter The receptionist slid the glass aside And placed a plastic bag in Martha’s hand She could see it contained Edward's spectacles and dentures And in one corner his gold wedding band Martha returned to an empty house And received not a single phone call Of condolence or sympathy Just one from the builders about pointing the wall