Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, WHEN THE DOCTOR CALLS THE SURGEON, by AMOS RUSSEL WELLS


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Classic and Contemporary Poetry

WHEN THE DOCTOR CALLS THE SURGEON, by                     Poet's Biography
First Line: When the doctor calls the surgeon, and the surgeon says you must
Last Line: Not to be -- an -- everlasting -- fool!
Subject(s): Surgery


When the doctor calls the surgeon, and the surgeon says you must,
And it cannot be put off a single day,
And the ambulance will come, will be here in half an hour, --
What then do you do or say?

There's no time to call a lawyer and no chance to make a will;
There's no time to talk things over here and there,
To ask folks' forgiveness for the ugly words and deeds,
To try to smooth your life to something fair.

There is clothing to be changed, and a small valise to pack,
And the ambulance arrives before you think,
And they whirl you off to the etherizing room,
Where you breathe the world to nothing, and then sink.

Oh, the surgeon is a blessing, though a blessing in disguise,
And we learn, learn, learn in his school:
Not to put things off, not to live for Number One,
Not to be -- an -- everlasting -- fool!





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