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  • doctors and nurses
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doctors and nurses

Stobhill - by Edwin Morgan

{ Poem }

Yes, I agreed to perform the abortion.
The girl was under unusual strain.

Eye Chart - by Nuala Watt

{ Poem }

I still believe my eyes
can hold a solar system, catch all the lights,
deliver to the doctor alphabets
as small as atoms.

Let Me Not - by Pauline Prior-Pitt

{ Poem }

Let me not be tempted
/ to talk incessantly about my illnesses;
/ the love of rehearsing them has become too sweet.
/
/ And more…

Neurology Outpatients - by Gill Garrett

{ Poem }

The consultant’s room
/ a gallery
/ exhibiting the scans;
/ my head
/ an apple sliced,
/ my core on public view.
/
/ To launch the show
/ an invited few
/ stand round, comment
/ on…

GP Talk - by Ruth Arnison

{ Poem }

Her GP told her, it’s important
/ to start looking for special accommodation
/ for when the time comes.
/
/ Parkinsons makes her slow…

Why Did You Become A Doctor? - by Miles Burrows

{ Poem }

I originally wanted to be a witch
/ Sitting inside a Leiden jar
/ In the pathology museum.
/ My fallback application
/ Was to be one of…

X-Ray - by Dannie Abse

{ Poem }

Some prowl sea-beds, some hurtle to a star
/ and, mother, some obsessed turn over every stone
/ or open graves…

Precious 10 Minutes - by Hamish Whyte

{ Poem }

The GP stands at the door of his room,
/ shakes my hand, asks me how I am.
/ I always smile and say…

This Is Bad Enough - by Elspeth Murray

{ Poem }

This is bad enough
/ So please …
/
/ Don’t give me
/ gobbledegook.
/
/ Don’t give me
/ pages and dense pages
/ and
/ “this leaflet aims to explain ……

from ‘Playing God’ - by Glenn Colquhoun

{ Poem }

10. A note of warning to patients when all else fails
/
/ Sometimes the needle is too blunt.
/ The stethoscope is too quiet.
/ The…

These are the Hands - by Michael Rosen

{ Poem }

for the 60th anniversary of the NHS
/
/ These are the hands
/ That touch us first
/ Feel your head
/ Find the pulse
/ And make your bed.
/
/ These…

From the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh - by Andrew Greig

{ Poem }

My only talent lay in these.
/ My father rubbed his hands together,
/ stared as though their whorls held codes
/ of thirty years obstetric…

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Scottish Poetry Library
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Edinburgh EH8 8DT
Tel: +44 (0)131 557 2876
© Scottish Poetry Library 2021.
The Scottish Poetry Library is a registered charity (No. SCO23311).
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