There was a man…
Shasha Khairullah
Who had a wife in labour,
He rushed her to the hospital,
And told the doctor, save her!’
As he waits patiently,
Worrying about his wife constantly,
At that moment the doctor rushed out hurriedly,
And called for the nurse, ‘come quickly!’
‘I need a wrench, ‘the doctor cried,
‘Certainly!’ the nurse replied.
And as she went outside,
The man exclaimed, ‘oh my!’
The nurse handed the wrench,
To the doctor who was waiting impatiently,
The doctor went into the OT quickly,
Only to burst back through the doors screaming.
‘What is it now, doctor?’asked the nurse
‘Quickly get me a hammer,’ he said out of breath
The man terrified for his wife asked,
‘Is she close to death?’
Distractedly the doctor replied,
‘I’m afraid I have no idea’
I’m sorry sir, all this while,
I was trying to get my bag opened, not your wife.’
By the way there are elements of doctor-patient relationship (actually between the doctor and husband). The husband also puts in a lot of faith and trust in the doctor. This reflects the high expectations that doctors have to face throughout their career.
It might not sound very funny, and I know certain parts do not rhyme, but I do hope you get the joke.
Thank you,
This piece showcases one of the best tools in a medic’s, and indeed any person’s toolbox; that tool being humour. The profession is often seen as one of the most rewarding and fulfilling, and though that is often the case burnout is an ever-present danger. The references to the doctor-patient relationship displaying great trust are no doubt important, but the simple humor displayed will likely bring a smile to a stressed-out doctor’s face.
And that matters.
This poem truly highlights the intense nature of being a doctor and how humour can be used to help relive some of that pressure.
I love how the reader can almost experience the emotions of the man. We are caught up in the stress of the situation which is then eased by the last stanza. When used appropriately, humour is a simple way of calming nerves and reassuring patients.
The stand-out part of the poem to me is how highly regarded doctors are viewed and the trust the man placed in the doctor to be caring for his wife. It portrays the continual stressful part of the job and the difference between the husband’s stress levels versus the doctor’s. It shows that the doctor has distanced himself from this situation, but in a successful way by using humour. The poem sounds very serious and stressed me a reader – but came to a relaxing end once again, showing the successful use of humour to reassure others.
I believe this poem shows the stress that encompasses health care professionals and patients but also puts a positive spin on it.