by Rachel Howells

Created on: April 12, 2009   Last Updated: December 08, 2009

Elizabeth was a nurse
A long time ago.
Compassion always
Her bittersweet foe.
Her conscience worked overtime
On Extended Care,
When she came upon an
Old woman in a wheelchair.

Someone had placed
The woman facing a wall,
As if she was not even in
The wheelchair at all.
The room was filled
With a pitiful sound,
Like a whimpering dog
Kicked to the ground.

Elizabeth went to see
What she could do.
She leaned in close
And asked, "Can I help you?"
The old woman was
Mumbling incoherently,
Until she saw Elizabeth,
And whispered, "Please kill me."

"I cannot do that,
But I can do this,"
Elizabeth hugged the woman
And gave her a kiss.
The old woman's eyes
Brimmed with tears;
No one had touched her
So gently in all her years.

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