New: Lucid Book Club by UBC Psychiatry
Check out Lucid, an Arts in Medicine sponsored club, hosted by UBC Psychiatry. Their next book club meeting is Sep. 22, 2015 discussing All My Puny Sorrows by Miriam Toews. Click the link to find out more, even details are also listed under ‘events’ on the AiM home page About Lucid The establishment of this […]
the left PCA
a clot lodges for the night in the motel sitting on the edge of the freeway: infarct in the underbelly. they pack away the books, drop them in the blue Donation bins in front of the 7/11; she becomes that famous author who couldn’t read.
D&C
D&C. Such a simple sounding thing. If it were C&D, We might add it to our alphabet song. Arrange soft & sauced alphagetti, Or lettered sugar sweet breakfast, But pasta nor cereal Comes up or goes down During a D&C. The heartbeat was hard to find. Clinic, emerge. I thought I could find it – […]
Even on Saturday
I just finished this poem after a rather frustrating period of feeling overly self-absorbed and subsequently finding myself in a less than compassionate space. I watch you hang up. Slowly. You’ve just finished confirming it again: “I’ll see you tomorrow. 8:30.” But tomorrow, I note, is Saturday. I’ve just double checked to make sure, Forever […]
On curiosity
The harbour seal bobs, tilts, eyes. Its appearance silky, Slides amongst waves. A presence which denotes curiosity: “What the heck are those black animals doing freestyle?” Its being more accustomed to tanked, oxygenated deep divers. Above and below surface, It explores. It questions. Flips and turns, bubbles and bobs. Dynamic question marks, Inn-acted with fins. […]
Narratives 2 (The Narrative of CaRMS)
This isn’t art-fully presented (yet perhaps), but a sketch of some memories I want to remember that are quickly fading. The narrative of 3 weeks. Reflected. Of meeting new friends, Some recognized from the big screen, Or from cities in our collective past, Mere few days or few flights back. Site visits at local gluten-free […]
Narratives
I’m reminded of texture Today, as light reflects. Off grass stalks straight, Cedar hedges scaled wild. And context – The here now why how. How narrative weaves The text of texture, context. The lightness, darkness, in between, Gives voice to both. Or rather all. The here now why how. Those stories and feelings, Reflecting more. […]
Morning Note
My boyfriend wrote me a little poem while I’ve been away, reassuring me while I face growing indecision and anxiety in these weeks on the CaRMS tour. Besides the silly inside jokes, I thought it was sweet enough to share. His more serious work can be found here (http://projectarctic.com). Morning Note We will land […]
A new year
My texts sit upon my friends’ bookshelf The knowledge is there Though living on the road this year has me wondering Where did I put it? It’s these moments of booking flights, Researching far off communities and programs, Preparing for random CaRMS interview questions, That I wonder what 2014 will have in store. I went […]
Untitled
Some gen surg haikus for you The scent of bowel Is hideous and lingers But also there is awe The nature of ego Is poison to a wound To cut or to cure? Consent? What a joke The operation mystifies What is the answer? Smile in the morning Start a patient’s day out right Dawn […]
SNOW
* This poem and photo are anonymous contributions from our Northern colleague in the NMP SNOW NMP author – anonymous I have come to know you As a breathe of the seasons As the constancy I look to in my life Like your perfectly shaped crystals That gently remind me Me and daddy sliding down […]
And Ode to CaRMS
Where I’d like to live? The question hovers my every move. Being a soon to be physician, Stepping into elite, With promises of status, respect, stability, And opportunity and choice. It’s here where I trip, hiccup, sneeze. I want to occupy the space Where the colourful canvased creatures play. In your joy as you bike […]
Reflections on Life 2
The curves are simple, Beautiful. A mound. Sits silent, illuminated. Painted with purple, While red drips. A growing being, 34 weeks? Beyond? Time ambiguous, The curves, Life’s bends, Overwhelm. Pregnancy confirmed. Bleeding, Beating, Bodies muddle, gown. In quiet, blade waits. Since words fumble, Questions abandoned, Silent respects. Resiliency, despite. The strength in those curves.
Musings From The North Wind
coral girl sitting on the edge of a cliff hair slowly shedding, nails ripped away lines mapping a birdlike face, thinned and yellow papyrus we push, you pull a playground tug of war or are we soldiers, blocking the charge riot shield stopping the longest fall to swim the depths below, every […]
The facts
The fact that you stand as I sit, And you pace as I listen. And read how you were deferred From yet another orthopedic surgeon. The fact that you’re barely older than me, With joints traumatized by dislocations. A congenital condition like loose elastic bands, And desire joint replacements as kids prefer lolli’s. The fact […]
Status quo
It angered me this am, While relaying your story to my staff physician, That when I said you were Aboriginal, It seemed to legitimize The fact that you’re here, The fact that you’re dying Too early, just like 3 of your siblings already. With a heart that’s tired, Vessels clogged, ravaged by toxic levels of […]
Sometimes I Wonder
I wonder sometimes, Between 3am ward calls, And figuring out Abx dosing – Never mind what bugs we’re fighting… How you’re doing, Beyond jokes about hospital food, A great view, a good book. I wonder how you feel when I ask you What you know and why you’re here, And you respond “my heart’s on […]
A rash
I remember today why I love medicine, Why I chose this life, Which regularly has me questioning my own sanity. On my last week of 3rd year. In dermatology [an unexpected spot for insight]. Though to call it medicine, Without hesitation is a misnomer – I prefer the social[slash]medicinal side of things, Which rarely, though […]
Finding freedom through words
(Disclaimer: this is not really health-related per say, but rather is more about writing and the process of finding and celebrating its utility in my own life.) I want to dive dolphins without splash, Fly with these unfeathered, unflighted arms, Leap over great lakes and dead seas, Challenge my shadow to double double, triple speed. […]
little ditties
she holds her truth behind her teeth and smiles small and strained the certainty of honesty is the certainty of pain of knowing that you are on a path to flayed skin and charred hearts fire is a cleansing force but the brushfire is not an inconsequential addition to a long list of casualties […]