What Happen To The Nurse? Poem by D Loveday Morris

What Happen to the Nurse

What happen to the nurse?
What happen to the Nurse?
The burden of the nurse is an empty purse

Weeping and wailing everywhere
Give them a little pittance: who the hell care?
If a nurse wants to live like a professional
They need to work overtime like an obsession
Work them hard and pay them little
Who cares if they can't even buy a bickle?

They say nurse; don't respond to things in the news
You could be penalized if you state your views
When the inflation rise, brings tears to your eyes
Government slap you in the face, with a no pay rise
Be a professional, except when it comes to your pay
Expect nothing, give everything and smile anyway

It isn't fair that because you are compassionate and kind
That poor wage must wear and tear down your mind
And the degree that you went to university for
Means that you are constantly in a pay war
The fight against diseases isn't even over yet
Still you have to fight for every cent that you get

True, you answered the call for love and not fame
But a proper payment is part of this profession just the same
And nurses you aren't being mean
Being a professional means, taking care of your own wellbeing
Stand up, speak up, for a professional wage
Take it to the news and social media page

It's time that we look at the bottom-line
The starting pay for nurses is a crime
Arrest the government; hold them accountable
Why should those in the nursing profession struggle?
There is already a shortage of nurses in the health system
Enough is enough! Nurses will not be victims!

To make ends meet some nurses are considering resignation
For the love of the people, pay nurses well; that's the solution
Mind Matters and nurses have minds
The inflation plus the pandemic; it's a stressful time
How could you forget that we are here?
We are the ones with the knowledge, skills and attitude of care

Nurses are professionals; reimburse us as such
We go the extra mile and deserve as much
Why do we constantly have to state our worth?
The Prime Minister knows; he said that out of his mouth
Yet when it's time to be reimbursed
Nurses are the ones with the empty purse

What happen to the nurse?
What happen to the nurse?
The burden of the nurse
Is an empty purse


D. Loveday Morris

July 23,2020

(Bickle- means food/meal in Jamaican Patois)