On December 4th, Tory chairman Nadhim Zahawi urged nurses not to strike but send a very clear message to Russia’s President Putin. In a moment’s pause on night shift, a British nurse considers the nature of the strong message she must send to Mr Putin.

Strong Message

by Steve Pottinger

This letter comes to you, President
Putin, from another, better world. Here,
Nadhim is once again working the graveyard
shift – hospital basement, concrete tunnels,
the flick flick flickering striplight no-one cares
to fix, his muscles aching, the bus ride back
to a cold flat on the wrong side of town still
hours away, the sealed bags of surgical waste
he must toss into the furnace that little bit
too heavy for a man as old as he, his pay
packet always that little bit too small, while
the one slow clap that plays
on repeat on his headphones does nothing
to help Nadhim put food on the table, meet his bills.

And you, Vladimir?
Oh, you won’t even exist.
This letter will never need to be.

Me? I will be as busy as ever.
Today we open Nadhim’s former home
to refugees, will offer the young couple
from Palestine room for the night
in the comfort and warmth
of his legendary stables,
will wait for miracles.