Global Haiku • January 2018
Dr. Randy Brooks

Nursing Haiku

by
Datoria Parker

Viewing life from the side as a caregiver can be so beautiful it brings tears and so sad it brings sorrow as well. As nurses we must remain strong and deliver empathy while keeping out sympathy to ourselves. Placing my sympathy in words to allow those feelings to regress works for me. Haiku allows me to express my feelings with obedience and respect to my patients. Working in long-term care for 15 years, my haiku are somewhat sad because I mainly see the end of life and the sadness of family members. I must express that every patient I have met in my career thus far has touched my heart in some way. To express their story in haiku is an honor.

tea party with dad
the moon shines
and I’ve got the juice

holiday season
away from my family
to be with yours

sweet Little girl
gets no pieces of candy
diabetes

the sun rises
after grandma’s heart stops
a broken family

a new white bracelet
for a cancer patient
medical ID number charms

the twins
share the same blue eyes
cries in harmony

punctured skin
a flash of blood
IV cath started