Recently I had the pleasure to compose a poem for a nurse I work with at McLean Hospital, Kareen Eka. Kareen is the winner of the Vision of Excellence Award presented by the hospital. I read the poem at the ceremony accompanied by guitarist/composer Jack Holland. I want to thank Sheree Pollock, RN for help with the poem, especially with her knowledge of perfume and jewelry.

SOMEWHERE

* Dedicated to Kareen Eka, RN– Winner of Vision of Excellence Award/McLean Hospital (June 2014)

A sniff of
Yurman perfume.
Then the
Tight braids
Of her
Nubian hair,
And we
Know she
Is there.

As the dusk
Creeps into
The evening shift
We see her
Like so many times before
Her amused
Crack of a smile
Her hands
Propped on
The nursing station
Dutch door.

On her tapered finger
The deep, deep tourmaline
Green of her birthstone
Flashes when she gestures,
A totem?
An Omen?
Something more?

A grin
A subtle pat
On the tremors of my hand
My voice
Once a brittle wisp…

But now perhaps,
Something more
Than this…

— Doug Holder

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