Nurses

We know
when it is said
   "Oh, I'm a nurse, too..."
an instant camaraderie occurs
in that moment:
remembrance
of all those days
   and nights
of school, assignments, chapters pored over
   endless cups of coffee
worrying about that first shot or IV given
   patients, wild and mild
   a physician's wrath or guiding hand
   instructors in their strange kind cruelty
   supervisors keeping their vulture's watch
all of it is known
between us
because
she or he
is a nurse, like me
and only a nurse
can know...


(c)K.E.Cline, 14 June 1997

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