Alpine Incident

(A poem based on bitter experience . . .)

Discovering a man just hanging on by his finger tips

to the stark and sheer rock face

(they had heard on the wind his cries for help),

the leadership team took a moment in committee

to discuss the correct procedure

and to establish protocol,

then, as agreed and directed, they stamped on his hands.

And, as he fell, they made sure to call down,

advising him to take good care.

They hoped that he would be all right, they said,

and that he would be able to adjust

to the new situation in which he now found himself -

flinging down after him a bar or two

of their Kendal mint cake.

And so they continued on their upward journey,

secure in the knowledge that the right thing had been done,  that they had

acted properly and within the guidelines,

been seen to be beyond reproach.

After all, he had been already

on his way down.