Clicky

Compassion Fatigue

12 November 2023

Kathleen Wenaden is a mother, medic, pilgrim, and poet. She is a GP in Hackney, London, and is nourished by writing poetry. She is on Twitter/X: @Kathleenwenade1

They look me in the eyes, expectant.
The urge for fixing, for making better
Ingrained in each heart.
A hard metallic edge coats mine
Yours too.
How can I peek around its edges, to see you?
I give no answer.
I give nothing more.
I have nothing left to give.

Featured photo by Dave Lowe on Unsplash.

BJGP Life

The British Journal of General Practice and BJGP Open are bringing research to clinical practice. BJGP Life is where we add the debate and opinion to help ensure everyone benefits from that research.

Subscribe
Notify of
guest

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

0 Comments
Oldest
Newest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Latest from Arts

Sparking Up

A moment to spare, what else to do but spark up the screen, taking a deep breath of the hot smoke on offer.*

Notes from a Doctor

A reflective poem from Gen Wong, "Mum said kids are doing fine, stickers I gave were like gold. But now iPhones are the shine — smiling at her, I felt old."

General Practice 179: a doctor, a lawyer, and an artist

"On 29 November 2025, I visited an installation created by the artist, Charlotte Mann. For a few short weeks, before the house was sold, Charlotte curated an exhibition that summarised an exceptional family in their home, 179 Burnt Ash Hill, SE12. The

A poem: nativity

Many around the world celebrate hope at Christmas, with the birth of a baby. This poem explores a mother's very different experience, yet despite it all, her song is underpinned with the same tremulous hope...
0
Would love your thoughts, please comment.x
()
x