nursing home

i get told every day my job is easy, i think people forget that its not i deal with death almost everyday and each death is the worst. its hard when you grow to love them and then have to let them go.

she laid upon the bed

deep breaths filled the quiet room

she was fragile 

she was skin and bones

she laid so calm and peaceful 

with each breath she took 

her family telling stories 

laughing like she was okay 

she laid in a bed 

slowly dying each day 

she was someones mother 

she was someones grandma

she was someones daughter

she laid in a bed 

all alone 

she spoke sweet words 

she asked god to forgive her 

she asked god to save her

i met her not long ago 

im not family

im only her care taker

i don't know her 

she is a stranger 

i feel like iv'e known her all her life

we just met

she stumbles over the words

she has accidents 

she apologies for them 

she seems scared at times

she is always cold 

i give her a blanket 

she always says thank you sweetie

i get happy walking into her room 

but she isn't there 

she passed on 

god called her 

i'm sitting in this room that's so empty 

so quiet i picture her breathing 

but she isn't there

i listen for her 

but she isn't there

she isn't coming back 

someone will  take her room 

ill be forced to forget her 

while someone else needs help 

she wont be there one i come to work 

she wont see her family 

she wont sit in her chair 

looking out the window waving as people walk by

she wont be there to watch 

she gone 

to a place where you cant suffer

where there is no pain 

but i wont see her 

i wont get to be with her

i wont hear her laugh

i have to one day to cry 

because the next day someone else will need me.

Reviews

[Relic]

One of the saddest parts of working as a nurse. My father had to stay in a nursing home for therapy and got to know his room mate Pete. Then one day Pete had some deep problems that sent him away to another facility and my father never saw him again.

I remember seeing the elderly patients. I can imagine your empathy for them and the deep heartache you felt to have to move on in such a short amount of time after forming a bond with the woman in your poem.

You're a good person. If there's a heaven she and others will be waiting to welcome you and thank you. I believe that.

Great writing.