Magic for a nickname

In the depths of my pain and despair, while in C.T.,
Sandra and Sonya saw the SIGN in I.C.
Made by Eileen, asking nurses in attendance
“Please call me Butsy; please not Clarence”

The sign went up with my body to Four
As Linda admitted me to the Floor,
Which is the realm of intercom Ruby,
And of Carrie who looks like a Cupie,
Carol, never ever known to be droopy,
And dear Anne Marie, who’s a trifle tubby.

It was “MR. Butsy” to Nurila, but just plain Butsy to the rest :--)
To sweet Theresa, quick-thinking Mama,
Dependable Debbie, soft-eyed Melissa,
Raven-haired Kathleen, glimpsed in the night :--)

I found them so Professional: Black, White, Day, and Night:
Swift-moving Jen, a real golden eyeful,
Carey the scrumptious, Carolyn the soulful,
Judy, PCA-of-the-year, who showered me,
and Mike the Mighty who dismissed me.

It happened so natural, it seemed SO for the best,
My disposition improved, by humor possessed...
It seemed my visit was just for a rest!

Although a Princeton TIGER am I,
I’ll hail YALE New Haven until I die.

C.S. Lovelace
Greenwich, Conn.

Written on the night before my discharge, 8/7/00, for the wonderful nurses in cardiac care.