Survivor of the Future
When people say I can't believe you’re a nurse
I think man, I can't believe I’m a nurse either.
Who was that white uniformed
Pointy capped kid on the oncology
Unit? Bogus crocodile tear
Crafter, faux hand holding
Angel of mercy
To patients and families,
All in all, not very
Nursey, lacking eye
Twinkle, reluctant smiler,
Sham hugging idiot
Compassionator, phoney
Sympathizer of displaced
Emotions, growler of the
Double shifts, I.V. chemo vein
Collapser, body fluids
Slopper, medication error
Extraordinaire, pill pushing
Pessimistic western medicine
Disbeliever, balloon popping
Slayer of optimism, body
Banging bruise maker,
Gallows humor chortling
Mocker of the dead.
That’s me at the H.I.V. hospice
Passive aggressive under the
Breath bemoaner, martyred
Empath queen, receptacle of
Last words and wishes,
Noisy laugher with some
Dying drag queen, oft
Last joy inducer, hiding
In the nurses lounge
Avoiding death and
Heart break further,
Vulnerability fatigued,
Gum snapping, big haired
80's red lip stick wearer of
Tight pants, after work
Disco dancing Valium,
Ativan, Codeine
Stealer also hot fingered
Lifter of the dead’s
Belongings, continuing education
Falsifier, nursing inservice
Napper, hider of the true
Artist, anger suppressed
Self-erasing creative,
Twice fired in-subordinator,
Back talking rabble
Rouser, unemployment
Milker, career test
Flunker, self-neglecting
Swollen ankled bladder
Leaker, varicose veined
Gray haired turning
Hopeful survivor of the future.
When people say I can't believe you’re a nurse
I think man, I can't believe I’m a nurse either.
Who was that white uniformed
Pointy capped kid on the oncology
Unit? Bogus crocodile tear
Crafter, faux hand holding
Angel of mercy
To patients and families,
All in all, not very
Nursey, lacking eye
Twinkle, reluctant smiler,
Sham hugging idiot
Compassionator, phoney
Sympathizer of displaced
Emotions, growler of the
Double shifts, I.V. chemo vein
Collapser, body fluids
Slopper, medication error
Extraordinaire, pill pushing
Pessimistic western medicine
Disbeliever, balloon popping
Slayer of optimism, body
Banging bruise maker,
Gallows humor chortling
Mocker of the dead.
That’s me at the H.I.V. hospice
Passive aggressive under the
Breath bemoaner, martyred
Empath queen, receptacle of
Last words and wishes,
Noisy laugher with some
Dying drag queen, oft
Last joy inducer, hiding
In the nurses lounge
Avoiding death and
Heart break further,
Vulnerability fatigued,
Gum snapping, big haired
80's red lip stick wearer of
Tight pants, after work
Disco dancing Valium,
Ativan, Codeine
Stealer also hot fingered
Lifter of the dead’s
Belongings, continuing education
Falsifier, nursing inservice
Napper, hider of the true
Artist, anger suppressed
Self-erasing creative,
Twice fired in-subordinator,
Back talking rabble
Rouser, unemployment
Milker, career test
Flunker, self-neglecting
Swollen ankled bladder
Leaker, varicose veined
Gray haired turning
Hopeful survivor of the future.