My best medicine were people! My doctor of 24 years retired and he really was both a healer for the mind and body. I wrote him a poem Only changed the first line
Healer of soul and body
You gave me medicine for my body and soul
You, a tailor of the cloak of the spirit
Master of the complexity of the fabric
of woven strands of flesh and blood
Threads broken and bruised
Mended with pills and injections but for all
with connections. Slender threads of your
presence woven into the life of your patients
Remaining in the unlocked chambers of the
heart, healing from the inside out
Now that you hang up your stethoscope
I hope the bright sky will spread out over you
(just as you have spread out your loving care
and laid your healing hand on men)
May the sun warp light on your self-forgotten
soul and light up a new path of discovery
Walk into the twilight of your life
where the muffled sound of a river is music
in a space of surrender into the grace
of a world which carries your colours
How wonderful it was that you had such a compassionate and skilled doctor for such a long time. I hope he gets full measures of joy and relaxation in his retirement.
ReplyDeleteYes, may he enjoy his well-deserved retirement.
ReplyDeleteYou have written a lovely poem to a doctor, and perhaps a friend too. :)
Yes, to a whole host of supportive people being the source of healing. You were fortunate to have such a good doctor since they are human and sometimes slip up in serious ways. That's when the rest of the people come into play.
ReplyDeleteA good GP is a community treasure! Your tribute is beautiful. I hope his successor turns out to be just as good.
ReplyDeleteThis is a gorgeous poem, as I read it the second time ... found myself reading more into it.
ReplyDeleteA very nice retirement tribute for your doctor.
ReplyDeleteI always try to choose a doctor younger than me because then he probably will
outlive me. Also because doctors can't possible read all the journals on the
item updates they will need to know in order to treat you properly. The younger
doctors have had these things condensed and will have studied them in their
schooling.
..
A lovely poem, I hope your doctor gets to read it.
ReplyDeleteA great doctor you've described here. One who really cares. I hope his retirement is long and full of joy.
ReplyDeleteHi Marja - what a generous poem for your obviously wonderful doc ... just delightful to read - and I expect he's thrilled to have it by his side, as this new journey for his soul begins. Fabulous - thank you ... cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteLovely tribute to you doctor. Happened to me last year...almost 40 years...devastating !
ReplyDeleteBeautiful tribute to someone who used his life well. Fits with my Poets United post on the death of a great friend.
ReplyDeleteThis is wonderful, Marja. Many of the lines describe my primary doctor--she's incredible, makes my journey so much more bearable. Medicine for the body and soul, indeed...
ReplyDeletehow stirring.... "healing from the inside out" I need that...
ReplyDeleteBeautiful blog
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting, as I believe people generally make me weak, deplete me of my energy. Fine tribute to the doctor!
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