I read in disbelief that my profession
Is one of the loneliest, in truthful admission
My first instinct was to say it could not be
Physicians deal with people constantly
Listening to their lives’ details intimate
Being empathetic to them in their most vulnerable state
Our lives’ rewards and punishments we measure
In the most “human” way possible, we treasure
The sacrosanct patient-physician interaction
Talking to people gives us satisfaction…
*
But then there is that dark side
The isolation of long hours trapped inside
The stark, barren hospital walls
Foregoing personal lives when duty calls
The self-inflicted pressure to perform at the level highest
At all times, leaves us with little time for rest
And relaxation with friends and family
We connect with strangers, but we fail to see
How we end up neglecting those we hold dear
Distance grows, this is how loneliness creeps in, I fear
We seek in our work, comfort and solace
As the discomfort at home grows harder to face
Thus we end up lonely, missing out on connections
With family and friends, despite our best intentions…
*
Our work fulfills a higher calling, it’s true
But life exists outside of work too
To strive for a work-life balance does not take away
The profound impact of our work anyway
To cultivate loneliness is not our intention
To family and friends, let’s direct our attention…
Passion...unbridled 