Ziyad Ziko McLean ’18 & Andre Sanchez ’18, 2017
Physician:
We usher new life into the world
nurture the growth of little boys and girls
deliver the sick from death’s door to wholeness once more.
Even with all the good we bring forth
faith always takes control at the final door.
And tests our efforts forevermore.
Years and years have had their toil
and the kid in us would not recognize what stands before
because of the things we can’t do, the lives we can do nothing for.
To fulfill the recovery of the sick
is to sometimes take an occupation
as the messenger from death’s door.
Some illnesses you can’t stop,
you present the news to the family and their heart stops
And as you search for an answer in yourself you ask:
“But what am I good for?”
Patient:
I
have come to know
that my days are fleeting,
my flower weakens
as an immortal chill nears,
the fruit of life
now sour, far from ripe,
remains constantly out of my reach,
and yet
the flowers glow with a brighter hue,
my love grows with each day anew
knowing that I will soon be due,
And as my stem bends
I will return to the Earth
once again.
Image credit: Richard Watkins / AJC
Narravitas 