Uneven laces
Ugly black laceups
like shiny leather shoe-boxes
slight squeak when I walked…
and I had to buy them
how I hated those shoes
First day dressed early
collar constricting and scratchy
apron swishing
the upside down watch
pen in pocket, hair neat and tidy
topped with starched cap
nurse kit in motion, stepping into the classroom
black clad foot on the first rung of the ladder
The navy blue clad tutor
with the wide frilly starched hat
Read us the rules
Then she inspected us,
Most of us were in trouble hats too big
hair untidy, shoes tied incorrectly
little misdemeanors demonstrating our
unsuitability to make the grade
My misdemeanor
those shoes
Laced incorrectly
I hated those shoes
When I qualified as a staff nurse
New neat black shoes …
no squeak as I walked
both feet firmly climbing the ladder.
This is the much edited version of a posting from last week a huge transition. To a much tighter piece.
Here is the original
Shoes, ugly black clumpy laceups looking like shoes boxes
leather, shiny with a slight squeak when I walked
I had to buy them
hospital issue, I paid they supplied
how I hated those shoes
their only saving grace the first step in my new career
It was all about the right image
skirt measured six inches from the floor
height of hat
belt colour demonstrating status
flat black shiny shoes Thick black stockings
starched apron, worn when working
Removed for meals
Collarless Grey cotton dress, white piped sleeves
three dresses to last the week
7 stiff white starched collars, 6 collar studs
12 pearl buttons with metal fasteners
7 starched white aprons
3 white starched cotton shapes to be folded into hats
one pair of ugly sturdy black shoes
Navy cloak with a red lining
The nurses kit
The basis for the next three years
The first day I wore it I was so excited
On the threshold of being Nurse Ok student nurse
my black clad foot on the first rung of the ladder
Collar attached to the dress, constricting and scratchy
Apron buttoned at the back the bib pinned
with safety pins to my dress
I added the upside down watch
A pen in my pocket, hair neat and tidy
I stepped from girl to nurse as I walked
into the classroom to meet my peers
Anxious but so proud
My misdemeanor those shoes
Laced incorrectly
I hated those shoes
Rules and responsibilities
Disipline a corner stone of our training
When I qualified as a staff nurse
and the rules relaxed, they were discarded.
New black shoes for the modern staff nurse.
