Melting Pot

Last night I left all my inhibitions at the door  
A clinging blue sexy dress, hair coiffed    
My six inch stilettoes out the door I go    
No nightly attendant in a parking lot on Madison Avenue    
I now realized this pandemic is serious      
No disrespect I am nurse, that was stated in earnest    
The streets of New York were so deserted for me in search of myself    
My color of blue always been a magnetic attraction for any man    
The first person who approached me, a homeless man, no mask    
I gave him a five dollar bill and a mask,      
one of my extra ones I usually carry in my purse    
Hey this is New York, come prepared or stay at home    
Okay where the hell is everyone    
I felt like an alien in this concrete jungle    
The only light I tend to see is darkness    
I arrive at my place of employment    
6:30am, the Sun has not even cracked,      
masking up, gloving up    
Helping the third shift staff, take the incoming first shift staff's temp    
Then the first shift staff must take the third shift staff's temp prior to them leaving    
Mandated by yours truly    
It is ironic, I am the Nursing Director, and you      
Would never hear it from me    
But maybe drinking something hot      
Will elevate that damn thermometer    
Please send me home    
I need some relaxation, losing weight due to no social life    
No going out to dinner, no plays, no Jazz clubs    
The only neon lights I see is when I drive through Times Square    
No every two week manicures, and my press on nails looks hideous    
My sagging curly hair needs salon care, immediately    
Governor Andrew Cuomo needs to act fast    
I deserve a little entertaining    
I have been working without reservations      
Camping out in my office to cover my entire staff    
Well past eleven o’clock      
Going to school    
Calling several Nursing temporary agencies to cover my overworked staff      
Only to hear the same message    
We have a shortage due to Cov-19    
And if we get someone who is willing to take any of your required shifts    
We will contact you    
Denied the comforts of a Nurse temp    
A shortage of Nurses in the middle of a crises how absurd    
Okay back to my adventure    
A co-worker stated she was having a gathering    
At her condo in Tribeca    
Then she called me at the last minute    
And said it was moved to next week    
The only excitement I got was watching      
someone playing Three Card Monte    
Then I played, hey that was my hustle back in the day    
I won eighty dollars    
I had both guys digging deep in their pockets    
However, I gave it back, I do understand that hustle so well    
They offered me a gig with them doing it on the Subway... damn I still got it... wink    
I sighed, turned around, and headed back to my vehicle    
I swear I was at a red light      
That same homeless man, I saw him selling his mask      
for what I could see, for some change      
WTF    
Who would even want it after it has come from so many hands    
Only in New York