Eugenia Lee is a GP and medical educator in South East London. Her poetry explores the human experience of medicine, general practice and caring for others.
Ten years to be trained as a GP
To diagnose, to comfort, to cure
Learning anatomy, pathology, pharmacology
Science into real life, simple and pure
Somewhere along this odyssey
A rumour must have spread
That doctors know a bit of everything
From eyelashes to raising the dead
“Doctor, whilst I’m here”
The sentence always starts
A heartfelt request delivered
Of course, I’m eager to resolve any troubled body part
Could you look at my mole, my mortgage
My career and my marriage
The neighbours’ children are causing damage
The swans down by the canal seem smaller than average
I’ve been asked about gardens
Central heating and quality of roofs
The state of a hamster’s health
From a child who wants to know the truth
Sites for possible piercings
Quality of the latest tattoo
Depth of moulds in bathroom
Accompanied by a photo or two
Holiday experts I surely am, should it be Cyprus or Malta
Would a week be too short, and two too long?
Digesting confessions like a priest
Offering absolution for all manners of wrongs
Relationships counselling, now that’s my forte
Dissecting ghosting, breadcrumbing of sorts
My opinions as to whether to stay or to leave
Or rather to mend or to retort
One day, I may be asked
To air traffic control, land a Boeing plane
Paint a face, judge a case
Write a symphony’s refrain
Synchronised water ballet
Put out wild forest fire
Do some emergency road work repairs
I will adapt to your needs and desire!
So, whatever hopes and fears
Share with me your laughs and tears
Whether it’s medicine, or life is getting tough
Sometimes, just being listened to is quite enough.
The greatest gift I can offer
Is perhaps not knowing it all
But being willing, when you bring me anything
To have a blood good go, big or small.
Featured photo by Annie Spratt on Unsplash.
