Driving with Daddy
Come along small child
With Daddy
We’re going to take a drive
My eyes are going funny
Could be we won’t arrive
My driving’s impaired
Haven’t you heard?
So we’ll test it out with Mummy
You see we are your parents
You are our precious child
So the decisions we make
And the risks that we take
Are all for your sake
My Child
From Dominic – with Love
So I did what every father would and should
I put myself, my family, my child first
Before the family who live in my street
Who could not say goodbye
Before the family whose father works on the covid ward
Which admitted my precious child
Before the family whose mother drove the ambulance
Which took my precious child to hospital
I put myself, my family, my child first
I put myself, my child, my family first
As every father would and should
Before the country that I serve
Before the government that I serve
Before the leader that I serve
Before the people that I serve
I put myself, my family, my child first
I put myself, my family, my child first
As every parent would and should
And to those of you who left
Your precious child each day
To carry out your duty of care
To watch the dying
Take their last painful gasps
To walk with fear and desperation
Through a 12 hour shift
And to return with the trail of death
Following you
To your precious child
To you I say:
I did the right thing
I put myself, my family, my child first.
Living Badge
I used to wear a living badge
A badge that spoke
It said:
Student
Junior
Senior
Specialist
It said:
Hard work
Training
Responsibility
Trust
It said:
The buck stops here
It said:
I’m here for you
It said:
I have some of the answers
At least
It said:
Trust me
It said:
I can help you
And I will
It said:
Poor wages
Low status
Not worth
Listening to
It said:
Pay cuts
Down-grading
Weak management
Staff shortages
It said:
Burnout
And now it says:
Hero
Saviour
Angel
Pillar of the community
It says:
Free pizza
Doughnuts
And coffee
To go
And it says:
Danger
Fear
Exhaustion
Death
And it promises:
I will be with you
You will not die alone