Questioning Protocol Poem by RoseAnn V. Shawiak

Pain inflicting itself upon me, tearing through my flesh and mind with it's intensity.
Causing me to cry out spontaneously without being able to hold the hurt it brings, stinging to my mind's eyes.
Tears begin falling like raindrops, rapidly and silently into the early morning air.
Waiting for a nurse to apply a patch to my skin to ease the intensity of pain ripping through me.
Not caring about the pain of her patient, just rigorously following protocol that doesn't match up with the reality of needs of the patient.