Source Collection
University of North Alabama Archives and Special Collections, UNA Anderson College of Nursing, Box 1, “Correspondence (1973, 1975-1983,1985),” Collier Library.
Description
A series of four poems presumed to be authored by nursing students in approximately the 1980s on themes related to mortality and grief.
The first poem "Thoughts of a Dying Person" is written by an anonymous author whose speaker questions the things in life they would do differently if they had more time. Its form is more prose like than the others in the document and could be considered flash fiction or prose poetry but seems to fit the poetic category more through the usage of a triangular shaping of the poem.
The second poem, an untitled piece by A. Jann Davis with the first line beginning, "Take time to hear my words" discusses the difficulty of terminal illness through a speaker who beckons their caretaker, presumably a nurse to "stay" just "a few minutes," so that they may be less lonely.
"Six O'Clock," the third poem was authored by L.M.A. in April of 1982, and features a speaker positioned at the bedside of his dying father questioning the ensuing moments of grief.
"Aftermath: Vietnam," the fourth and final poem in the series, by Larry Atkins was written in July of 1981 and includes a speaker who is grappling with the grief of post-traumatic memory of the Vietnam War.
Date Created
4-9-2026
Date
c. 1980s
Document Type
Article
Recommended Citation
Anonymous; Davis, A. Jann; A, L M.; and Atkins, Larry, "Poems by Nursing Students" (2026). Documents. 4.
https://roar.una.edu/una_anderson_docs/4
Rights
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Comments
Table of Contents
"Thoughts of a Dying Person" by Anonymous, pg. 1
"Take time to hear my words" by A. Jann Davis, pg. 2
"Six O'clock" by LMA (April 1982), pgs. 3 -4
"Aftermath: Vietnam" by Larry Atkins (July 1981), pg. 5