.

Carcinoma

The NHS, though poised and calm,
Have so far done no hurt or harm,
Towards this cancer on my arm.

They saw it there a month ago,
And told me it would have to go;
Since then I’ve sat and watched it grow.

Maybe they’re planning what to do.
Perhaps they’ve put me in a queue.
They’ve not told me—have they told you?

.

.

Originally from England, Clive Boddy is a Yorkshireman currently living in Perth, Western Australia. He is a semi-retired academic and has held professorships in Leadership and Management. His numerous publications include two books on the effects of corporate psychopaths on employees, organizations and society; and a single book of poems called Poems of Love and Location. 

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.

8 Responses

  1. Cynthia Erlandson

    Condolences, Clive, if this is about a current situation of yours. This sort of infuriating thing is what happens when government takes charge of things that are not their job, like the medical system.

    Reply
  2. Joseph S. Salemi

    When you have a bureaucratic colossus like the NHS, there are no medical emergencies. There are only queues.

    Reply
  3. Margaret Coats

    Clive, your poem makes clever reference to the first part of the Hippocratic oath, which is to “do no harm” to the patient. It is an ironic reversal of priorities for the National Health Service to do “no hurt or harm” toward the cancer threatening the patient’s health and life.

    Reply
  4. Paul Freeman

    The NHS is indeed under stress, Clive. Have you considered having the cancer removed in Australia, where you live? My brother-in-law also lives in Perth, WA, and had skin cancer treatment there. Apparently, it is a simple and common procedure.

    Reply
  5. Clive

    Thanks everyone, I am working in Cambridge in the UK at the moment but about to go back to Perth on holiday. I’ll seek further medical advice when I’m there.

    Reply
  6. Roy Eugene Peterson

    I had to gasp at what is transpiring, or in this case not in the UK. Your poem is well conceived and well written while making me shake my head.

    Reply
  7. Gigi Ryan

    Dear Clive,
    This poem rolls off the tongue so smoothly. I picture you, with a medical concern, poised and dignified, even as medical buffoons unwittingly fail to heed their calling. Doing nothing is not the same as doing no harm, which you imply in a patient, understated way.
    Gigi

    Reply
  8. Warren Bonham

    So many people in America think health care is fantastic in other countries. No one ever pays attention to horror stories (told very amusingly) like yours.

    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.