In this powerful spoken word poem, pediatric nurse practitioner and poet Kate Earley recounts the haunting morning she cared for a five-year-old girl who survived a brutal act of violence at the hands of her father. The Garden, 6:10 A.M. is a raw and intimate reflection on trauma, survival, and the enduring human connection formed in the quiet hours of critical care.

This episode explores themes of child abuse, PTSD, medical trauma, memory, and the long shadows cast by early violence. With clinical precision and poetic tenderness, Kate gives voice to the moments that never leave us—the ones we carry, stitched into silence.

Trigger warning: This piece contains references to graphic violence, including child abuse and attempted filicide. Listener discretion is advised.

Keywords: pediatric ICU poem, spoken word trauma, child abuse survival, medical storytelling podcast, dissociative identity disorder, PTSD poetry, nurse poetry podcast, trauma-informed storytelling

Copyright ©2025 Kate Earley

Music: Happiness Does Not Wait by Ólafur Arnalds

Written: April 14, 2025