Poetry Explorer- Classic Contemporary Poetry, MEDICAL TYRO WAITING FOR PATIENTS, by C. S. ELDRIDGE


Poetry Explorer

Classic and Contemporary Poetry

MEDICAL TYRO WAITING FOR PATIENTS, by                    
First Line: The young doctor sits through his advertised hours
Last Line: And call number one he hails with delight.
Subject(s): Medical Students; Medicine; Patience; Physicians; Professions; Drugs, Prescription; Doctors


THE young doctor sits through his advertised hours
In a well-equipped office perfumed with flowers,
Longing and praying for patrons to come,
For a fee to receive as a comforting crumb.

Yet the bell tinkles not, nor a patient appears
In search of his skill, born of studious years;
He listens intently through long office hours,
And daily the news of the journals devours.

Thus day after day passes most of his time,
Though skill he has much, and ambition sublime;
He's opinions of value, and books by the score,
Yet e'en not a "charity" enters his door.

He writes his indulgent, venerable sire
Of money exhausted and rents that are higher,
And dozes and dreams of the riches of others,
Of sons who have wealthy fathers and mothers.

He wonders how long he must patiently wait
For patients to come and his sorrows abate;
He sees Dr. Doe sporting satisfied airs
With a balance in bank and penates and lares.

And queries if fate with an infamous plot
Be the cause of his sad and most desolate lot;
He wonders if Smith, and Johnson, and Jones,
Could have thus ever lived as professional drones;

Could have been so discouraged when seeking a start,
As to palsy their nerves and sadden the heart;
And lastly he wonders how long he must live
Withholding the blessings physicians would give.

When deepest in gloom o'er his lack of success,
With little of hope and courage still less,
The bell sounds aloud in the midst of the night
And call number one he hails with delight.





Discover our Poem Explanations and Poet Analyses!


Other Poems of Interest...
Home: PoetryExplorer.net