Night Shift Poem by Robert Melliard

I salute you night-shift workers
wherever you may be around this globe.
It must be hard to sleep next day,
through morning light and noise.

Some of you put up with a lot.
Taxi drivers for example,
patiently waiting your turn in the small hours,
only to have to deal with drunks
or drugged-up, unpredictable men.

Or night staff in A and E, or para-medics,
or prostitutes ready 24 hours a day,
or bar-men or bouncers or police.
All of you have to be psychologists -
specialists in misfortune and aggression.

You have to listen to slurred mumblings
or shouts or insults or crudeness.
You may even be in danger.

Perhaps you're paid extra for those hours
but you must wonder if it's worth it.