Pharmacists on the Front Lines

Pharmacists on the Front Lines

We’re all so scared

Every day and every night

Every moment is a danger

Every sniffle is a fright

And yet we keep on going

To work every day

To make sure YOU are healthy

In every important way

Though we can barely keep up 

With the demand for medications

We make sure to set aside moments

To have phone conversations

Because sometimes we’re the only people

That you speak to all day 

Some people are alone

And isolated in many ways 

So we try to be human

Even though it’s so scary

To be near people-

Constantly

Even though we’re so wary

That the wrong cough could stay

On our masks or coat-sleeves

That we could possibly bring home 

(God forbid!) the disease 

And I’m watching my patients

Pass all too quickly

Grandparents, parents

Some healthy, many sickly

But we show up and open

Every single day

We push through our fear

Our tears, our dismay

We open our doors 

To keep you at home

And we keep on answering

The endlessly-ringing phones

We give advice and recommendations

To keep you safe and sound

And we pray for you too 

When we have a moment to sit down

We source items 

With prices that aren’t pretty

To get inhalers, antibiotics, 

Zinc and vitamin C

And in between all that

In case we didn’t have enough tasks

While we try to watch Tiger King

We’re stitching together homemade masks 

So stay home for us

Because we can’t and we won’t

Not until this is over

Then we’ll head someplace remote

And you can take over 

The country for a bit

Give us a small rest 

A little respite

But until then we’ll keep

Our doors open to patients

Keep giving out advice 

And of course, medications

One thing is for certain

You have our guarantee

That’s the kind of care you get 

In a local pharmacy

Stay safe, stay home, and stay healthy, 

Dr. Chloe Haber, PharmD