Whose Children? 

Gerri Harvey, RN, M.Ed. NCSN

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Whose children are those

The ones with that hair?

Or the ones who won't answer

Except with a stare?

 

Whose children are those

The ones who smell bad?

Whose children are those

Looking lonely and scared?

 

And whose child is THAT

With the insolent face?

Whose child is that

Who won't stay in his place?

 

I stand here and watch them

The first day of school

The rowdy, the moody

The the very un-cool.

 

I used to wonder

But I no longer ask

If there is a parent

Needs taking to task?

 

For I know that no matter

In understanding I've grown.

There are raw tender places

Where spirit meets bone.

 

I am a school nurse

I can "see" past the skin

And I know I must care

From without and within.

 

Open your eyes

But see with your heart

For nursing is science

And nursing is art.

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Those children are mine

Whether big ones or small

They are yours, mine and ours

They belong to us all.