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medicine

Love in the time of Lexapro - by Rhiannon Auriol

{ Poem }

It’s not quick & I’m resentful for this.
My SSRI & I are in a deep, dream-like relationship.
I am fully awake in the static;
when they leave, I shake,
when they stay, I sleep.

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…

Second Opinion - by Douglas Dunn

{ Poem }

We went to Leeds for a second opinion.
/ After her name was called,
/ I waited among the apparently well
/ And those with bandaged…

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…

Twenty-eight Weeks - by Lesley Glaister

{ Poem }

We nearly missed her.
/ This little storm of life,
/ could have blown by
/ before we weathered her.
/ But here she is: sturdy,
/ definite, pointing her…

A brief format to be used when consulting with patients - by Glenn Colquhoun

{ Poem }

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

From ‘Doing Calls on the Old Portpatrick Road’ - by Iain Bamforth

{ Poem }

12 Graham’s Landing
/ ‘The ear says more
/ Than any tongue’
/
/ I thought I spoke the language
/ asking what the matter was, the wrong.
/ I only…

From A Year and a Day: 19 October 1979 – 19 October 1980 - by Gael Turnbull

{ Poem }

To be taken in small doses as required
/
/ October
/
/ 25: Miss G -, born while Queen Victoria was still alive,
/ standing proudly…

A Medical Education - by Glenn Colquhoun

{ Poem }

for Dr Peter Rothwell
/
/ In obstetrics I learnt that a woman opens swiftly like an elevator door.
/ The body wriggles free…

Cocktail hour - by Richard Price

{ Poem }

Measure out, administer.
/
/ Katie’s half dribbling, half tiny-bubbling.
/ She’s laughing (gentle). She’s not swallowing this, tells it
/ in a viscous mumble, bright red…

To The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (1505-2005) - by Stewart Conn

{ Poem }

A Welcome
/
/ Sons and daughters of Aesculapius
/ from Doctor & Prof to Mr & Ms,
/ we the citizenry of Auld Reekie
/ celebrate your Quincentenary;
/ James…

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