.

The Doctor

An expert in each area, this man’s
The doctor for all things in disrepair—
Tea kettles, doorknobs, hafts, electric fans…
His fingers soothe their maladies and wear.
No institute or training course as such
Has seasoned him; he learned by merely seeing
My grandfather at work, imbibing much
Of all his talents. Now, this wisdom’s being
Transferred to me, this master’s sole successor.
While working as a team on some device,
If hurdles clog our flow, this strict professor
Investigates them well with peaceful eyes
And says, “I have a way. Should I suggest?”
We both agree that his plan is the best.

.

.

Shamik Banerjee is a poet from Assam, India, where he resides with his parents. His poems have been published by Sparks of Calliope, The Hypertexts, Snakeskin, Ink Sweat & Tears, Autumn Sky Daily, Ekstasis, among others. He received second place in the Southern Shakespeare Company Sonnet Contest, 2024.

NOTE TO READERS: If you enjoyed this poem or other content, please consider making a donation to the Society of Classical Poets.

The Society of Classical Poets does not endorse any views expressed in individual poems or commentary.


Trending now:

22 Responses

  1. Margaret Coats

    A clever and touching description of manly skills in the home, and how they are passed down. It does honor to your father and grandfather, Shamik. Happy Fathers’ Day in your family!

    Reply
    • Shamik Banerjee

      I am very glad you felt so, Margaret. Thank you so much for the wish and for reading. God bless.

      Reply
  2. Isabella

    A lovely tribute to your father and grandfather too!
    I really enjoyed reading your poem. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Shamik Banerjee

      I’m happy that my poem gave you joy, Isabella. Thank you so much for taking the time to read and comment.

      Reply
  4. Phil S. Rogers

    Fixing little problems with work and common sense is unfortunately a ‘lost art’ for so many people in today’s society. A great read this morning.

    Reply
    • Shamik Banerjee

      I agree, Phil. The older generations are rife with skills, that in today’s time, are rarely seen. Thank you so much for reading.

      Reply
  6. Paul A. Freeman

    If you need a lightbulb changed or a plug wired, look no further. I’m a wizard with a tube of superglue, too.

    Great poem, Shamik. Many dads of old were similarly multi-talented, though this too often tended to be offset by procrastination.

    Thanks for the read.

    Reply
    • Shamik Banerjee

      I’ll definitely seek your help, Mr. Freeman. Perhaps we can start with my broken cricket bat.

      Thank you for the lovely comment, and I fully agree with your point. I hope you are well.

      Reply
  7. Joseph S. Salemi

    This is such a perfect narrative sonnet, written in such elegant and limpid English, that I was utterly delighted by it. The enjambment is delicately handled, the diction is sophisticated, and there isn’t a single touch of awkwardness in the entire piece.

    When we say that the SCP is a place for classic English poetry, poems like this are the tangible proof.

    Reply
    • Shamik Banerjee

      I am truly uplifted by your generous comment, Mr. Salemi, and I feel so happy that my sonnet brought you delight. It’s always a pleasure to know your thoughts. Thank you so much.

      Reply
  8. Cynthia Erlandson

    I agree with the comments above— what a delightful poem!

    Reply
  9. Susan Jarvis Bryant

    Shamik, I love this beautifully conceived poem with a respectful and loving nod to a father whose character shines in the lines of your superb sonnet. Thank you!

    Reply
    • Shamik Banerjee

      Reading your comment brought me great joy, Susan. Thank you so much for reading.

      Reply
  10. Roy Eugene Peterson

    Shamik, I cannot think of a better way to celebrate Father’s Day than sending this poem to my own children and grandchildren, for you have spanned the generations with the passing on of wonderful skills and the ability to be the “doctor” of the household. Thank your for this gem.

    Reply
    • Shamik Banerjee

      I feel so blessed to learn this, Mr. Peterson. Nothing would bring me more joy than seeing your children and grandchildren read my poem. Thank you so much. Made my day!

      Reply
  11. Brian A. Yapko

    I really enjoyed this tribute poem for your father, Shamik. Your love and admiration for him shine through your words. Your mention of the grandfather is particularly wonderful for the way you create an image of three generations of men each passing down important lessons to the next generation thus creating a chain of love and lesson.

    Reply
    • Shamik Banerjee

      I am so grateful for your lovely thoughts, Brian. My intention was to honour my father and grandfather, both, and it’s a good feeling to know you think so. Thank you so much for reading and leaving this lovely comment.

      Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.