The Editor, Sir:

The purpose of this little verse

Is not to make bad matters worse;

It is to thank the cheerful nurse

Who'd rather cure than shout and curse.

A fair share of the public purse

Is what I'd give to every nurse

Who serves for better or for worse,

And always puts her patients first.

At every grade, at every stage,

Each one should get a decent wage;

They shouldn't have to rant and rage

On every day's newspaper page.

Stick to your famed gentility,

Aplomb and sensitivity;

Your ECG and ENT

Make much more sense than DVD.

So cheers to all good nurses. Hail!

You're good as Florence Nightengale

And our Mary Seacole too;

May your reward soon come to you.

I am, etc.,

KEN JONES

alllerdyce@hotmail.com