Night duty from Equilibrilized by Michael Collins, RobbieP808x, Kelly Spiller

12 O’clock-
Night duty in F3.
Aberrant sounds:
Small talk; patient enquiries;
Very occasional phone enquiries
From sleep deprived relatives.
Pens writing furious notes
Regarding the progress of those in care:
The recovering ones… well hopefully;
The permanently damaged ones… unfortunately.
They sleep unless for charted medication
Awakened by the nurse who gently rouses
Them from their dreams- or not so dreamlike state.

13-10 13-20 13-35 13-50

Minutes… Hours… Time

disappears. The shift welcomes every sound
That manifests as a blessing to relieve boredom.
Outside lights mimic stars-
A perverse reflection.
The screech of brakes… contraindicated.

Then the silence reigns.

And inside this world
It is business as usual.
The man in the bed I monitor
Is snoring- proof of continuing life.

Some, come morning
May not be so lucky.

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