Emergency

They come in on stretchers
gasping for one more breath
alone they suffer silently
as nurses and doctor work
poke prod inject inspect
it is all in a days work
some live some die others
linger on and on forever
there is no soft music or
dim lights in this place
only starkness business
forms to be filled out
no comfort no lavender
no gentleness here at all
no facts and figures now
life and death no compassion