Specialist

“Cure sometimes, treat often, comfort always.” – Hippocrates

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I know you are here in my clinic today

Looking for relief- even before you say

Something, I know you are in pain

I hate to disappoint you again

The unfortunate truth is; as a specialist of the heart

I am not quite prepared to treat another body part

Your legs hurt, you tell me, and I have ruled out

Every heart-related cause I could think about

I know that I am going to make you feel

Worse by giving you my usual spiel

About the benefits of exercise on your heart 

Forgoing that advice at present would be smart

Infact, when you ask for pain medication, I have an excuse

Pain-killers make heart failure worse, so I refuse

To give you relief from the symptom that bothers you

At least your heart disease is stable, that much is true..

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You and I,  both leave the examination room dissatisfied

Your pain persists, I’ve taken a blow to my pride

How I wish you had symptoms with which I could deal

Or have a solution to your problem somehow revealed

It bothers me much more than I am willing to admit, I confess

My failure to alleviate your suffering overshadows any success

That I have had today- because I could offer to you

Neither cure, nor treatment, nor comfort today- it’s true

I am a specialist with years of training behind me

In treating  afflictions like yours, I should have mastery…

Yet at my ignorance I am humbled again

I send a silent prayer heavenward for relief of your pain.

(Image source: wikimedia commons)