Strike

Seeing various workers strike recently made me recall the walk-out I once was caught in. It was very disruptive, and we were all glad, both strikers and non-strikers alike, when the Union came to terms with Management.

Strike

"Patients before Profit!"

"Honk if you support nurses!"

It's not about the money.

It's always about the money.

                 * * * 

MD on my name tag: a toxic

cipher to the marchers

but a pass to cross their line.

The waiting-room slimed

with runny noses and coughs.

A single travel-nurse triaging.

"Safe staffing now!" faintly audible.

The chant mingles with the gnat-like

buzz from an aggrieved ER light.

Infant struggling to breathe placed

in Critical Room One. Oxygen started,

nasal swab sent, portable X-ray taken.

Admit with RSV. But where? Into

whose hands? Transfer. But where?

Next up: a clean cut to be stitched.

In reality: wild child vs pinch hitter

lacking savvy. No soothing words, no 

warm blanket wrap to contain wiggles.

The father faints. My bumbling sidekick

and I tend to him. Child wailing. Sterile

field broken.

New gloves. New suture. New needle.

Papa newly seated.

Outside: fireworks dampened at midnight.

Marilyn Aschoff Mellor