Nurses
When the sun is but a brushstroke on a canvas of black, we rise
Too early, too tired, too under-paid
We arrive in droves and disperse to our respective stations
Work begins before work, on the glare of a too old computer
pills pills pills
Can't pass them fast enough
shots shots shots
People won't hold still
beeping beeping beeping
There are so many machines
death death death
We fight it everyday
Work ended an hour ago, two hours ago, three hours ago
and yet we are working with no end in sight
When a new wave of workers comes we work on still
Everything must be perfect
If you didn't chart it it didn't happen
DNR, consent forms, heparin flow chart, all signed
At the end of the long and back-breaking day we leave
Blood on our shoes and sweat soaking our scrubs
Nothing can be more rewarding
and we can't wait to do it again tomorrow