2017 Contest

Making Work Visible

City University of New York / Labor Arts

Nathania Fields

Poetry Third Place

Nathania Fields

Education, Queensborough Community College

Deprived Giver

Deprived Giver

Christina Huang SEIU/CIR resident physician at Montefiore Hospital, Belinda Gallegos, 2001

Scrubs must be clean
Even though Mrs. Henry in 234 just vomited all over you
And Steve is hollering about how the remote won’t work

Hour 12
Your favorite patient just died
And you’re trying desperately not to cry

Your favorite doctor just called you an imbecile
And Mr. Williams just shit himself for the 3rd time today
Don’t you dare cry

You have not gone on break
Or eaten anything at all today
And Steve is calling for you, again

Hour 18
No replacement for the night
And your kid is calling your phone for the 2nd time
You can’t own up to the “I’ll be late again tonight”

Throbbing feet, growling belly, and an unguilty guilty conscience.
Wipe the tear before someone sees.

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