You passed the limits
of my knowledge with your
most recent diagnosis, pills and prods
now the specialist’s domain. I hold
your hand and listen. My stethoscope
curls in my pocket, dormant
as a sleeping cat.
Your husband calls me
by my first name here, heralding
a new intimacy. He offers me a whisky.
I settle on a soft drink. You both say
you’re honored I came. Such a strong
word for how little I can do.
You tell me about
the new drug you’re taking.
I know you have little time. I won’t
be back again. But there is hope
in your clear blue eyes,
so I let it lie there.
5 thoughts on “Home Visit”
Beautiful. This captures many home visits in a nutshell. Thanks for sharing!
I like this very much – the intimacy – the thrust – the core of being a physician
Hope…always wanting to hold on to that string. Sometimes it works sometimes it’s slippery. Thank you for sharing Dr. Lamp.
I appreciate the emotion this stirs and the images it conjures. Provocative!
Your words capture the essence of being a physician (or any number of other Healthcare professionals)…listening, being kind, giving hope — all through your quietly being present.
What a blessing this essay is for me.