A POEM FOR THE TAOISEACH

Dear Mr Taoiseach/To whom it concerns, I sincerely hope you are good. I hope that you’re happy and healthy and warm, And I’ve something to say, if you would. I am a student of nursing you see, And to hear that, you may roll your eyes. But please Mr Taoiseach, open your ears, And listen to the thousands of cries. It is not just the nurses or midwives you hear It is their patients, their families and friends. In fact Mr Taoiseach it is your country which cries, And united we are at our wits’ end. In preparation for striking, hats, gloves and scarves were put on, As the nurses and midwives set out. They embraced the damp, wet, cold and wind But never did they show any doubt. Although it was freezing and hands had turned blue, Mr Taoiseach they stood without fear. What happened next Mr Taoiseach lit a fire in our hearts, The public began to appear. Not only did they thank us or beep the car horn With them they brought us some sweets As I’m sure you can imagine in the cold conditions that morn, The coffee and soup worked a treat. Pizzas and doughnuts, chips and tea Mr Taoiseach they were so kind. Which is why Mr Taoiseach this poem aims not to offend My intentions are just to remind To remind you of your people, so many of them great, Each of which we can’t thank enough. For their support, their kindness, their beeps and their waves Without which, our strike would be tough. I swear to you sir we do not want to stand, In the winter conditions outside. We would rather instead to be doing our job, Caring by our patients’ bedside. So please Mr Taoiseach I’ll ask once again, To acknowledge our cries in despair. All that we want, is for our job to be valued, All we want is for things to be fair.

Yours truly, Georgia Gilligan (Just a student nurse)