Uneven laces

Ugly black laceups

like shiny leather shoe-boxes

slight squeak when I walked…

and I had to buy them
how I hated those shoes
First day dressed early

collar constricting and scratchy

apron swishing

the upside down watch

pen in pocket, hair neat and tidy

topped with starched cap

nurse kit in motion, stepping into the classroom

black clad foot on the first rung of the ladder
The navy blue clad tutor

with the wide frilly starched hat

Read us the rules

Then she inspected us,

Most of us were in trouble hats too big

hair untidy, shoes tied incorrectly

little misdemeanors demonstrating our

unsuitability to make the grade
My misdemeanor

those shoes

Laced incorrectly
I hated those shoes
When I qualified as a staff nurse

New neat black shoes …

no squeak as I walked

both feet firmly climbing the ladder.
This is the much edited version of a posting from last week a huge transition. To a much tighter piece.
Here is the original
Shoes, ugly black clumpy laceups looking like shoes boxes

leather, shiny with a slight squeak when I walked

I had to buy them

hospital issue, I paid they supplied

how I hated those shoes

their only saving grace the first step in my new career
It was all about the right image

skirt measured six inches from the floor

height of hat

belt colour demonstrating status

flat black shiny shoes Thick black stockings

starched apron, worn when working

Removed for meals

Collarless Grey cotton dress, white piped sleeves

three dresses to last the week

7 stiff white starched collars, 6 collar studs

12 pearl buttons with metal fasteners

7 starched white aprons

3 white starched cotton shapes to be folded into hats

one pair of ugly sturdy black shoes

Navy cloak with a red lining

The nurses kit

The basis for the next three years
The first day I wore it I was so excited

On the threshold of being Nurse Ok student nurse

my black clad foot on the first rung of the ladder

Collar attached to the dress, constricting and scratchy

Apron buttoned at the back the bib pinned

with safety pins to my dress

I added the upside down watch

A pen in my pocket, hair neat and tidy

I stepped from girl to nurse as I walked

into the classroom to meet my peers

Anxious but so proud
My misdemeanor those shoes

Laced incorrectly

I hated those shoes

Rules and responsibilities

Disipline a corner stone of our training
When I qualified as a staff nurse

and the rules relaxed, they were discarded.

New black shoes for the modern staff nurse.