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  • Tools of the Trade: Poems for New Doctors
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Tools of the Trade: Poems for New Doctors

Current Project

Tools of the Trade is a pocket-sized anthology of around 50 poems, to help think about compassion and about personal resilience in the challenging situations faced by all junior doctors.

It is edited by doctors, includes poems by doctor-poets, and the first edition was made possible entirely by private donations, many from GPs or their families, and the support of permission holders for the poems included;  the second and third editions are also supported by the Royal College of General Practitioners in Scotland, and The Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland.

It’s been given free to all medical students graduating in Scotland since 2014; you can read more about the project here.

We are delighted that the second edition completely sold out, thanks to an article by Simon Constable in the Wall Street Journal. The third edition is available to purchase from our shop, online and in person.

Poems for Doctors with the School of Medicine, University of St Andrews

Dr Dhaliwal vimeo

Dr Lowe vimeo

A wonderful project, based at the School of Medicine at the University of St Andrews, offers moving and hugely accessible filmed readings of poems from Tools of the Trade.

The readers come from staff and students at the school, and all have a particular reason for picking their poem. The films are available for all to watch online; if you’re a medic, you can also join a Facebook group to discuss the experiences described in the poems.

We are very thankful to the Dean, staff and students of the School of Medicine, particularly Deputy Head Julie Struthers and Information Designer and magician Steve Smart, for giving Tools of the Trade a new digital life in addition to the printed book.

Poems from Tools of the Trade: Poems for New Doctors

Nuala Watt - Eye Chart

I scowl towards his voice. He says the map / marks how far vision goes.
Read the Poem

Glenn Colquhoun - A Brief Format to be U

The patient will talk. / The doctor will talk. / The doctor will listen while the patient is talking.
Read the Poem

Martin MacIntyre - Tools of the Trade

New doctors will be empowered by poems / in the pockets of their metaphorical white coats.
Read the Poem

Kathleen Jamie - Healings 2

At midnight the north sky is blues and greys, with a thin fissure of citrine just above the horizon.
Read the Poem

Bernard O'Donoghue - Going without ...

It is a great pity we don’t know / When the dead are going to die
Read the Poem

W. S. Graham - from Private Poem

The spaces in the poem are yours.
Read the Poem

Karen Patricia Schofield - Myeloma Moths

The moths came with a soft flutter / one night and burrowed into / the deepest recesses of cloth.
Read the Poem

John O'Donohue - Beannacht / Blessing

On the day when / the weight deadens / on your shoulders / and you stumble, / may the clay dance / to balance you.
Read the Poem
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Tel: +44 (0)131 557 2876
© Scottish Poetry Library 2021.
The Scottish Poetry Library is a registered charity (No. SCO23311).
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