Notes from a Doctor

Gen Wong is a GP in Manchester. His debut poetry collection, Hydrangeas Are Never Wrong (2025), explores family, humour, and everyday grace. He is on LinkedIn

He says he feels quite dizzy,
she says she feels dizzy too.
Spreading around, this dizzy —
eyes on ceiling, I felt blue.

She hears buzzing like a bee,
he came with sore legs at night.
Both better, since seeing me —
invincible, I felt bright.

Mum said kids are doing fine,
stickers I gave were like gold.
But now iPhones are the shine —
smiling at her, I felt old.

I phoned him about something.
Been ages — we reminisce.
May not have long with that thing —
lost in thought, I felt unease.

Her son said she is not well,
stormy months truly awful.
I knew her such a long spell —
phone in hand, I felt tearful.

I have known them a long time.
Few were born, others have grown.
Few aged, and few reached their time.
Was it worth it — with time flown?

Featured photo taken by Andrew Papanikitas, 2023