after a nightshift
at 7am
in the hyperbaric oxygen chamber
of your shiny car
rain draining off the windscreen
as you are lifted
into daylight
you think the paparazzi
should be here
because once again
you failed
no
just your cold bed
your conscience
• Craig Coyle is an advanced nurse practitioner in mental health. From These Are The Hands: Poems from the Heart of the NHS is written by doctors, nurses and other NHS workers, edited by Dr Katie Amiel and Deborah Alma and published by Fair Acre. All proceeds go to NHS Charities Covid-19 appeal.
