Author Archives: Docpoet

My patient is sick, and she needs My empathy, besides my expertise, indeed I’m cognizant of her disability and pain I also understand the mental strain That she experiences every day As heart failure (literally) sucks her breath away Everything in my interaction that I emphasize Is focused on her needs, with her I empathizeContinue reading “Empathy”

We all have the lives we are given To deal with the cards in our hands, but then Fortunately we have also been blessed With the ability to think, imagine and process We are not satisfied with the way things happen to be We want life to fit our imagination, evidently Sometimes some of usContinue reading “The life that I have, not the life I want..”

There are lines, neat and bold Telling a story that begs to be told Attention-grabbing, drawing you in Expressing ideas given a clever spin By the writer, who is trying to lead you In a direction singular, as the article you read through.. Read the lines and your ideas would soon resonate With the author’sContinue reading “Read Between the Lines”

Lately I have had some trouble sleeping, precipitated by nights on hospital call. As I was trying to power through clinic in a mostly sleep-deprived state this week, I heard the complaint of insomnia or poor sleep from nearly every patient (Some of it may have to do with the soaring temperatures where even air-conditioningContinue reading “I Can’t Sleep..”

I read.. stories I consume I gloat over ideas, I savor I inhale the perfume I experience the flavors Of tales wild and true And outlandish fantasies Textured, layered ideas I accrue Vivid words my imagination seize I take in books like a connoisseur I feel them using every sense Reading a book is aContinue reading “Bookish…”

(This comes on the heels of the last poem- how a physician moves forward with hope in the midst of despair) There were a thousand reasons to leave Myriad annoyances that made me want to cleave Myself from the profession that had become My second skin, my identity, the overall sum Of my strengths andContinue reading “My raison d’être is the reason..”

Bit by bit I see chipping away My once unbridled enthusiasm every day I want to channel my energies in one place On my patients, but my cognitive space Is occupied by umpteen tasks unproductive I have no more bandwidth left to give Any more to this hallowed profession With a heavy heart I makeContinue reading “Don’t Let Me Burn(out)”

We believe that to be in control of our destiny Is the ultimate goal, one that would make us happy So we try to establish control in any way we can In a life that has a penchant for not following our plans If only we tried hard enough, we are told; We would seeContinue reading “Things I can’t control…”

Her great great great great grandmother did not go to school, you know Her great great great grandmother was more fortunate though She learnt to read and write, kept the books, taught her children ABC Her great great grandmother could go to university She marched to earn the right to vote snd won A newContinue reading “Regression”

“Sacrifice” is a sacred term, uttered with reverence Conjuring images of stoicism and suffering intense In which one human gives up something of value profound To benefit other(s), without boasting around.. Ah what an altruistic ideal to aspire to! “Sacrifice” is the epitome of virtue For our families, all of us to some extent compromiseContinue reading “What did I sacrifice”

Sitting in my ivory tower I churn out Manuscripts on a subject obscure Of which I am an expert, no doubt My research is authentic and pure I write treatises, travel everywhere On this esoteric topic I expound To the same group of academics who care Enough to hear an “expert” renowned * There areContinue reading “Thoughts from the Ivory Tower”

There is much I want, but how do I prioritize? New distractions constantly arise In the form of things shiny and bright Letting my values get out of sight Suddenly the desire for material things Becomes stronger, pulls at my purse strings Making me fall under the dangerous impression That life would be better withContinue reading “Shiny New Things…”