Ward 64
the curtain’s beige and orange checks
do nothing to divide us
when her drip beeps I think it’s mine
when she hears the bad news
I have to put my iPod on to keep it out
across the room he’s lost his wedding ring
because he’s got so thin
skinny fingers
I’d better watch out for that
there is poetry all over the walls
of oncology
and I want to get out
About this poem
This poem is included in the second edition of Tools of the Trade: Poems for new doctors (Scottish Poetry Library, 2016). The anthology was edited by Kate Hendry; Dr Lesley Morrison, GP; Dr John Gillies, GP and Chair, Royal College of GPs in Scotland (2010-2014); Revd Ali Newell, and Lilias Fraser. A copy of the first edition was given to all graduating doctors in Scotland in 2014 and 2015, and with support from RCGPS and the Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland, to all graduating doctors in 2016, 2017 and 2018. We are very grateful for the individual donations which funded the cost of this anthology, and to the Deans of the Scottish medical schools who made it possible to give the books to their graduating students.
