On the first day of COVID my hospital administrator gave to me,
A pep talk and some shoddy PPE.

On the second day of COVID my hospital administrator gave to me,
Two nitrile gloves,
And a pep talk and some shoddy PPE.

On the third day of COVID my hospital administrator gave to me,
Three travel nurses,
Two nitrile gloves,
And a pep talk and some shoddy PPE.

On the fourth day of COVID my hospital administrator gave to me,
Four overflowing wards,
Three travel nurses,
Two nitrile gloves,
And a pep talk and some shoddy PPE.

On the fifth day of COVID my hospital administrator gave to me,
Five coding dings,
Four overflowing wards,
Three travel nurses,
Two nitrile gloves,
And a pep talk and some shoddy PPE.

On the six day of COVID my hospital administrator gave to me,
Six hospitalists a-praying
Five coding dings,
Four overflowing wards,
Three travel nurses,
Two nitrile gloves,
And a pep talk and some shoddy PPE.

On the seventh day of COVID my hospital administrator gave to me,
Seven PAs a-donning,
Six hospitalists a-praying,
Five coding dings,
Four overflowing wards,
Three travel nurses,
Two nitrile gloves,
And a pep talk and some shoddy PPE.

On the eighth day of COVID my hospital administrator gave to me,
Eight aids a-sulking,
Seven PAs a-donning,
Six hospitalists a-praying,
Five coding dings,
Four overflowing wards,
Three travel nurses,
Two nitrile gloves,
And a pep talk and some shoddy PPE.

On the ninth day of COVID my hospital administrator gave to me,
Nine administrators prancing,
Eight aids a-sulking,
Seven PAs a-donning,
Six hospitalists a-praying,
Five coding dings,
Four overflowing wards,
Three travel nurses,
Two nitrile gloves,
And a pep talk and some shoddy PPE.

On the tenth day of COVID my hospital administrator gave to me,
Ten demands awaiting,
Nine administrators prancing,
Eight aids a-sulking,
Seven PAs a-donning,
Six hospitalists a-praying,
Five coding dings,
Four overflowing wards,
Three travel nurses,
Two nitrile gloves,
And a pep talk and some shoddy PPE.

On the eleventh day of COVID my hospital administrator gave to me,
Eleven trustees griping,
Ten demands awaiting,
Nine administrators prancing,
Eight aids a-sulking,
Seven PAs a-donning,
Six hospitalists a-praying,
Five coding dings,
Four overflowing wards,
Three travel nurses,
Two nitrile gloves,
And a pep talk and some shoddy PPE.

On the twelfth day of COVID my hospital administrator gave to me,
Twelfth in line for a vaccine,
Eleven trustees griping,
Ten demands awaiting,
Nine administrators prancing,
Eight aids a-sulking,
Seven PAs a-donning,
Six hospitalists a-praying,
Five coding dings,
Four overflowing wards,
Three travel nurses,
Two nitrile gloves,
And a pep talk and some shoddy PPE.

Russell Johnson is an internal medicine-pediatrics physician. Sonia Hegde is a postdoctoral fellow.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com