For You, The Nurse

A Poem Dedicated to the Nurses on Nurses Week

For you, the Nurse

Who work for little,

Who work more to earn more

To make ends meet.

Time is sacrificed

So that loved ones can have more,

but not more of you.

I see you.

For you, the Nurse

Who need a break

But can't step away.

Who need a day,

More than a day.

A week.

A month.

Exhaustion follows you.

And you do your best anyway.

I see you.

For you, the Nurse

Who bear witness to the first cry,

And the last breath.

Who witness the joy,

And the pain.

Who provide comfort and care,

and stay so that no one dies alone.

I see you.

For you, the Nurse

Who work under the bombs

And under tents.

Hospitals are under rubble

And you show up for people anyway.

You don’t have anything to work with,

But you make due anyway

Because the heart of a Nurse does not die.

I thank you.

For you, the Nurse

When burnout hits,

But you don't see it coming

Until you look in the mirror. 

The weight of the Nurse feels heavy,

Because who can truly understand the Nurse?

The back and shoulders

Are stiff and injured,

And the injuries transcend the body

And into the soul.

You are not alone.

And I see you. 

For you, the Nurse

Who work through pandemics,

Epidemics,

Through protests,

Through heart break,

And through the unknown.

For those who worried

If they would see their loved ones again.

I see you.

And I thank you.

For you, the Nurse,

Who carry the stories with you,

In heart and memory,

Those silent symbols on your lanyard,

Or clothing

So that you never forget the patients

That impacted you the most.

I see you.

And I thank you. 

For you, the Nurse,

With a big heart,

Compassionate heart,

Beautiful heart.

The soul is weary,

The mind is tired,

The body torn.

How can it not.

And

The heart of a Nurse is strong.

Forever strong.

I see you.

And thank you, for what you do.