The daily clergy visitor
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Every noon time,
an elderly clergy man would stand
at a corner of the busy ward, observing.
Streams of visitors strolled in
towards their loved ones or friends.
Some brought extra fruits and food.
They would hug and kiss
the face or the hands of the patients,
chatting concernly.
********
A few lonely patients watched silently,
but their loved ones were struggling
in a hand-to-mouth existence
to feed their family,
let alone afford a trip
from the interior to the city hospital.
*******
The clergyman clasped his hands together
in front of his chest
and gestured if he may sit down
next to a bedridden patient.
The patient nodded and pointed
to a chair next to his bed.
*********
It was all silence and touch communication
as he peeled an orange or banana
to feed the patient.
He would wipe the face
and hands of the patient.
And he would just sit for a while
before moving to
the next targeted patient.
Until a security man came in
ringing his bell signalling
the end of the visiting hours.
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Chen Song Ping 