This poem was inspired by nurses who often, in silence, mourn the death of their patients. The unspoken emotional pain can take a toll, as nurses must move forward in the care of others with minimal time to mourn, and caretaking begins again. The fragility of life is what nurses witness daily.
Fragile
Fatigued.
A 12-hour shift completed.
The struggle to stay awake.
The long drive home.
Tears form a small pool in the eyes
and are quickly wiped away.
Visions of a patient who was alive
just hours before.
The arrival home.
A shower in silence as emotional and
physical exhaustion of the day emerges.
A deep sigh with more tears.
Life is fragile. This reality of moments in time
gives honor to patients lost and
tribute to the nurses that care for them.
Fragile.