An ode to the nurse who cried.

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Kalandria
Junior Member

since 2006-05-23

Posts 44
Yorkshire, England

0 posted 2006-09-26 06:55 PM

We gathered around your bed,
Like sea birds at the first dawn catch.
Assembled in silence,
We waited for the hushed footsteps of death.

We watched as your breaths grew short.
Parchment skin stretched across fragile bones,
Dying embers of life,
As the music of the machines played your final song.

She stands in the corner.
An angel clad in starched attire.
A stranger to us all,
Tiptoeing through our grief with sweet cups of tea.

She wiped your brow when fever raged
And brought water to your drying lips.
She held your hand
Throughout lonely, twilight hours of pain.

She spoke soft words to failing ears.
Read stories to pass your final hours.
She stroked your hair
And heard your weakened pleas for help.

With eyes that see more truth than most,
She read in your face, the woman you were.
In her mind,
She saw you dance, saw you love and be loved.

Death caresses your cheek and takes your hand,
To lead you gently from this life.
We mourn your loss
And as I weep I look towards her shadowed form.

Our eyes meet in wordless greeting
And I see the tears upon her tired cheeks,
I see and understand
And as she turns and leaves, I give her silent thanks.

Your ordinary angel.
Her tears, her gift to you....I keep.

Kira Aso
Member

since 2006-09-26

Posts 351
Closer to Hell...

1 posted 2006-09-26 07:54 PM

This is a very emotional and very pretty poem. (I know I coudn't write it) Lovely job.

The Lady
Member Rara Avis

since 2005-12-26

Posts 7634
The Southwest

2 posted 2006-09-26 10:38 PM

"Like sea birds at the first dawn catch."

beautiful work Kalandria...

ChePacifica
Member

since 2006-09-26

Posts 58
Ignore Alien Orders

3 posted 2006-09-26 10:43 PM

excellent pen poet -
very powerful

"
As the music of the machines played your final song.
"

passing shadows
Member Empyrean

since 1999-08-26

Posts 45577
displaced

4 posted 2006-09-26 11:02 PM

very powerful write

aziza
Member Elite

since 2006-07-09

Posts 2995
Lumpy Oatmeal makes me Crazy!

5 posted 2006-09-27 01:28 AM

You show the strength and compassion with a deep understanding. I like this a lot.

aziza

Refugee
Member

since 2006-08-04

Posts 97

6 posted 2006-09-27 08:54 AM

Knowing some nurses personally, this really hit home, and on top of that, you wrote it so that we could all place ourselves there and see with your eyes.

Sunshine

Administrator

Member Empyrean

since 1999-06-25

Posts 63354
Listening to every heart

7 posted 2006-09-27 09:16 AM

We have a poet here
to whom this very well
could be dedicated...

so I'm sending it on to her.

Thank you for this.

dingusjr
Member

since 2003-09-24

Posts 415
Missouri

8 posted 2006-09-27 06:42 PM

Enjoyed this touching poem. It would be so easy to become jaded in that profession. I don't think I could do it. So sad.

Magnus

Member Laureate

since 2001-10-10

Posts 14135
South Carolina, USA

9 posted 2006-09-27 07:03 PM

Oh goodness, this is a most touching poem.
A scene played over and over again every
day of each week, month and year....Death
waits for us all.

Midnitesun

Member Empyrean

since 2001-05-18

Posts 28647
Gaia

10 posted 2006-09-27 08:06 PM

Absolutely beautiful, in presentation and content, it is heartwarming.
Thank you for sharing.

jwesley
Member Rara Avis

since 2000-04-30

Posts 7563
Spring, Texas

11 posted 2006-09-27 08:11 PM

Beautiful my friend, wish I had written it, but terribly glad you did and I was able to read it. I agree with Midnight Sun whole heartedly.

loved it...

jwesley

seraphin
Senior Member

since 2000-09-24

Posts 1004
Michigan

12 posted 2006-09-27 09:55 PM

This beautifully shows the compassion in TWO people. Wonderful, wonderful words.

Sandra

hoot_owl_rn
Member Patricius

since 1999-07-05

Posts 10750
Glen Hope, PA USA

13 posted 2006-09-28 03:43 PM

This link was sent to me by a very dear friend here and I'm glad I didn't miss it for it truly would have been a shame. After reading this for the fourth time I'm still at a loss for words, though not tears. What a magnificent piece of poetry. Your imagery is splendid and the final line...priceless!
A wonderful read and I'll be sure to look up more of your works

Ruth

Kalandria
Junior Member

since 2006-05-23

Posts 44
Yorkshire, England

14 posted 2006-09-29 10:17 AM

Thankyou all for your kind comments. Ruth, I hope I'm right in assuming you're a nurse. You and your colleagues do a wonderful job and I just wanted to let you know that even in the darkest of hours, it doesn't go unnoticed....thankyou.

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