#NoPoo Book 1     An ode to Gabriel

The comforts of loyalty  
A doctrine of silence among the members of your royalty  
Words said in confidence not to escape  
No need for a mouth to be covered with duct tape  
You have my back when the poker chips are stacked  
A bonded relationship as a wide receiver has with his quarterback  
Loose lips sinks ships  
I don’t know nothing, my lips could never be unzipped  
Even through the darkness of a solar eclipse  

Loyalty of the heart  
Where does the pulse end where does it even start  
Ride or die with me  
No referee needed my word, my bond never to waver under any certain degree  
Believing in someone as their parting the Red Sea while in the bed  
Once we get up nothing else is said  
Loyalty to believe  
Loyalty to see  
Loyalty an invisible connection  
Loyalty a lifetime dedication  
 
You and me against the laws of some  
Getting paid by dirty street income  
Let the chips fall where they may  
No time to betray  
A hushed word within a secret society  
Sometimes no glory of its notoriety  
Hush sweet baby do not say a word  
I got the car, the dope, and I got the mockingbird  
Here they come buckle down  
Hide your emotions and speak like a clown  
Now you in handcuffs talking downtown  
 
Loyalty to me; dammit what happened  
Baby they caught me slipping and mentally catnapping  
And I suppose your mouth just start flapping  
Memories of betrayed feelings  
Behind double dealings  
Scars of painful healings  
To reprimand time now you’re on knees kneeling  
Make sure you know who you pledge your silence too  
Make sure it’s someone who will always come through  
 
Rain, hail, the storms in or out  
No need to shout behind the costly bailout  
The Ups or Downs  
Make sure you are council to your own glorious crown  
This regulation applies to woman or man  
For those who will never come to understand  
Loyalty of emotions  
Sitting behind a mask off false devotions  
 
Killing me softly without a gun  
Should you stay or should you just run  
Inner peace is what the mind and soul crave  
Therefore, in life never dig your own grave  
Or befall to the improper definition of loyalty to allow another to mentally enslave  
 
 

Usually when my phone rings late it is for the sexual thrills. Therefore, when I press my answer button, I am already sitting up and preparing myself for pleasure.  
   
Not last night. My best friend who resides in  Philly just so happened to be on vacation and she was scrambling to get someone to cover her shift, and pleaded with me, I wanted to tell her my nursing license to practice in Pennsylvania has expired, but hey, she's my best friend, yet, the last time someone pleaded with me to get out of my bed, I had to be treated like a baby throughout the night. So I had to drive from New York to Philly, to cover her third shift, and I have not worked as a Critical Care ER Nurse, and Trauma in what, seven months or so since I am now the Nursing Director who sits behind a desk look pretty and paper push.    
   
I was cursing under my breath the entire drive, I got there a little after twelve, said my hello’s to the old nurses who brave the elements and work third shift.  So, this poem is dedicated to a shift I agreed to step into, bonding with myself again, and just missing the adrenaline rush, I do not get behind a desk.    
   
The next time girlfriend, tell them to get a temp, thank goodness I am off today, I have bags under my eyes, and my uniform has blood stains on it, now you see why I chose to give up this side of nursing, it’s too heart wrenching,. I am about to hit the road in an hour or so, I am just waiting for someone from first shift, to relieve me, if I have errors, I am on my laptop will fix when I get back to New York    
   
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania    
3:50 AM    
   
Third shift prayer from the lips of an ex Critical Care Trauma Charge Nurse    
Energy to heal, smiles of hope given to disburse    
All is quiet in my corner, but for some, all is not well    
Souls handing on tonight to heaven or hell    
Breathe…just breathe please, as you believe    
We are at the throne of Dawn’s eve    
   
Prayer hands have been busy    
Cries of pains throughout the halls, sunken heart, compassionate mind is totally dizzy    
I’m up, cannot close my eyes    
Blood, codes, machines beeping, ill related bodies, life taken without earthly whys    
Morning light, please take the calls of pain away    
Give someone who cries out to you tonight, just one more day    
   
Heal thy heart, thy body, thy mind    
Give comfort to the loved ones who were sadly left behind    
Dinner for me, cannot even take a bite    
ER busy, short staff, Heroin overdoses, car crashes have consumed my night    
Be thankful for each day    
As I type on a hidden break someone cries in agony begging not to  take this day away