I wrote this poem at my older sister’s bidding.  The Compliance Officer at her chapter of the Red Cross was celebrating 25 years there and they were throwing her a party.  Chris described her CO’s job (and her innate perfectionism), and all the ‘do’s’ and ‘don’t’ of hygiene, contamination control, and professional appearance expected from the crew at the Red Cross Donor’s Center.

 

Mar-i-lyn sat up and stretched,

And yawned a great big yawn.

Then sprang from bed with zest and zeal

‘Though it was only dawn.

 

She brushed her teeth and showered,

And even shaved her pits!

(She did it almost every day--

‘Cause stubble gave her fits.)

 

She donned her plain white cotton bra

And briefs of purest white,

Then paneled, neutral panty hose

To hold her tummy tight.

 

Her skirt fell well below her knees,

Her blouse rose to her neck.

And with her magnifying glass

She gave herself a check.

 

No wrinkles, dirt or cat hair

To make her look a slob,

And dressed in full compliance

She thought “God, I love my job!!”

 

For twenty-five long years now

She’d worked for the Red Cross.

By being quite “particular”

She was, by now, the BOSS!

 

And on this anniversary

She thought she’d celebrate.

By leaving for the Center now,

She could be there by eight!

 

She thought, “I’m owed a few more perks!”

Then found the parking lot.

“For all these years, you’d think I’d have

A gilded parking spot!”

 

 

With hair in place and back held straight

She pondered “How time flies!”

She opened up the Center door

Then stopped in shocked surprise.

 

Clayton’s Honda Gold Wing

Was leaned against one wall

As Chris tried hard to straddle it,

(She liked to make it fall...)

 

One donor table held his tools,

The next-- a cute young girl.

As soon as he had iced her blood

They’d take it for a whirl.

 

Upon his spotless lab coat

He wiped hands slick and dirty.

He’d change and clean up long before

The “boss” came at eight-thirty.

 

Compliance Officer was she,

And Training Specialist!

She thought she’d taught and shaped this team

To be the very best!

 

But as she stood there quietly

Her eyes took in the sight

Of two new donors trying to stop

Anne and Annette’s fight.

 

Across the room stood Joanie

With Janie at her side.

She wore a blown up rubber glove

Pinned upon her hide.

 

Janie did assure her

As she winced and plucked a brow,

“Joanie, I must say it--

You make a handsome cow!”

 

Claire sat on a table

Beside an older man.

Her shorts were almost skivvies,

And showed off half her can.

 

She checked the bag and told the gent,

“Looks good, you’re almost done!”

Then wiggled her patootie

And said, “Move a little, hon.”

 

Another guy was tended by the nurse

Whose name was Stacey.

And as she leaned she did expose

A bra both black and lacy.

 

Linda did a puncture

But never donned a glove.

And then applied her lipstick,

Which all the boys did love.

 

Mar-i-lyn watched in dismay

As one nurse ate a Heath...

Then a two-by-two was opened

By Norma, with her teeth!

 

Another one (with pink striped socks)

Hollered ‘cross the room,

“This fellow here’s got AIDS, folks!

He’s soon to meet his doom!”

 

“That’s nothing!” said a bra-less nurse

With nipples rouged and red.

“That madam in the corner

Makes her living in her bed!”

 

Marvin flapped across the room,

His flip-flops sounding nice.

Then stopped and cursed a blue streak,

‘Cause he was out of ice.

 

At this, Ms. Boulier broke her trance--

She’d seen all she could stand!

Some heads were gonna roll now!

Some jerks were getting canned!

 

What did they think? They just could flaunt

Her precious B.S.D.’s?

Did they not know they must obey

Her famous S.O.P.’s?

 

She stormed across the Center floor,

A pounding in her heart--

--And then she sat bolt upright--

And woke up with a start.

 

That dread scene in the Center...

It all had been a dream!

Thank God, she still did oversee

The best blood-sucking team!

 

And even though she was relieved...

She knew her guys were great--

She told herself, “ ‘Though they’re the best...

I’d better go at eight!”

 

 

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