This painting started different from what you see
It was the day some disturbing news came to me
A dear one with breast cancer had been diagnosed
Pragmatic it was so difficult not to be at the most
How many patients in their treatments did I share?
Good outcomes, sad ones, nurses all have to bear
Mothers, sisters, lovers and brothers, though rare
Work assignments all, no matter how much I care
As their nurse, the only thing incumbent on me
Fill orders, ever present for the patients to be
Showing any personal feelings, is not allowed
O the risk of emotions, my patient focus to cloud
Stages of grieving, patient and family go through
Anger, denial and bargaining--to name just a few
Let's not forget the acceptance and depression
The only feeling allowed me, one of suppression
There's no time for them, there is so much to do
Med's to pass, treatments, patient teaching too
They were only my patients, my job to be done
Inside they're my mother, father, sister, my son
One thing it seems all who are successful must be
Positive in attitude, everywhere the good to see
Survival won't always come from such an attitude
Yet it's more than just an encouraging platitude
To live a life without hope, how would we go on
In a self fulfilling prophesy, we'd soon be gone
But wait, this isn't a patient, it’s someone near
Now it is my turn for anxiety, concern and fear
With my emotions racing, the decision left to me
What this painting should say, what should it be!
Compassion, encouragement, support and love
All reminders of what comes down from above
Then like dawn awakening, I knew what to say
Sunny days keep the blues of bad news at bay
That is how the painting “Sun-day” came to be
My feelings, patients now everywhere can see.
The inspiration of the Sun Day painting and poem came from life. It has the emotions stifled as a nurse and the feelings experienced of now having a family member with cancer.
Jonathan Steele, RN is a nurse, artist (painting and sculpture) photographer, free lance public speaker and web host of http://www.speechmastery.com/
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