Hello David

First things first: Happy New Year! I just want to quickly introduce and post this poem. Since Snowden spilled his secret to Yossarian in the back of the plane and reminded us that man is matter, I thought this should be shared as well. "Hello David" was written by a Vietnam war nurse and originally published in Shrapnel in the Heart (Random House 1987). I know this is a little grim for the holiday season, but war and death continue during Christmas and through the New Year, and this is when I have the time to post.

Hello, David - my name is Dusty.
I'm your night nurse.
I will stay with you.
I will check your vitals
every 15 minutes.
I will document
inevitability.
I will hang more blood
and give you something
for your pain.
I will stay with you
and I will touch your face.

Yes, of course,
I will write your mother
and tell her you were brave.
I will write your mother
and tell her how much you loved her.
I will write your mother
and tell her to give your bratty kid sister
a big kiss and hug.
What I will not tell her
is that you were wasted.

I will stay with you
and I will hold your hand.
I will stay with you
and watch your life
flow through my fingers
into my soul.
I will stay with you
until you stay with me.

Goodbye David - my name is Dusty.
I'm the last person
you will see.
I'm the last person
you will touch.
I'm the last person
who will love you.

So long David - my name is Dusty.
David - who will give me something
for my pain?