H-Block Shuttle

for L McKeown

We see nothing
from the Inter-Kesh-Shuttle
the H-mobile,
only the people seated
on the other side
(and no one really knows
what side they are on).

Somewhere between Hs,
an overdue light bill,
thoughts of a holiday for two
(in anywhere but Gibraltar)
and the one whos doing life,

the H-mobile stops,
we wait for the doors to open.
Tic toc, tic toc, tic toc.

Time for a head count.
He counts our heads
on his fingers
for a living,
while the people seated here
count the relatives
they have left
(some are running
out of uncles).

Some brazen it
with a false laugh
some stare ahead
forgetting to blink.

A woman whispers
Were going to the showers,
others throw Mass card glances
at their shoes
(with them he counts
the back of their heads).

Hey mister,
what do you do for shilling,
a queens shilling?

I count heads
for a living
my clean living.

Do you speak
to the heads
that you count?

Im not paid
to speak to the heads
who dont count
Im paid to count
the heads who dont speak.

And why
do the heads
that you count
not speak?

Outside the dogs bark
to ensure
that the heads
who dont count
that I count
dont speak ...

And what about
the no-windows scare?

No windows are there
to ensure
that the heads
who dont count
that I count
dont see.

And what is
it out there
that the heads
who you count
shouldnt see?

I count heads
on my fingers
for a living
for my clean living
for my queens shilling.

I get paid
to count heads
who dont count,
not to tell you

what the heads
who dont count
shouldnt see.

We see nothing
from the Inter-Kesh-Shuttle,
the H-mobile,
only the people seated
on the other side
(and no one really knows
what side they are on).

© Rita Ann Higgins, H-Block Shuttle 1992