Medicine
Dorothy Kligerman is ninety-five years old, widowed, with three married children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her first published work appeared in February, 1931, in The Record Book of her graduating class at Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia, PA. The next time her work appeared in print was not until the 1980s, while she was working as a reporter for the Mt. Airy Express. The paper folded at the end of that decade. Again there was a hiatus, until in 2006 she enrolled at TARP (Temple Association for Retired Persons), sponsored by Temple University, which offers many courses for senior citizens. She enrolled in the Poetry Workshop, led by the energetic and inspirational Peggy Walsh McKenna. The following poem first appeared in Pulse Magazine.
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REFLECTIONS OF A SENIOR CITIZEN
I used to talk of fun and games
Now I talk of aches and pains.
I used to paint the town bright red
Now at nine I am in bed.
I used to dream of lovers bold.
Now, if truth be told
The only men who interest me
Are those with a medical degree.
"Why," you ask, "have they such clout?"
Well - we have so much to talk about:
There's my arthritis and stenosis,
Hypertension, scoliosis.
In a cozy room, alone, we chat.
We never have a lover's spat.
So keep your handsome Romeos
I'll always take those medicos!
- Dorothy Kligerman
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Veneta Masson is a registered nurse and poet living in Washington, DC. She has written three books of essays and poems, drawing on her experiences over twenty years as a family nurse practitioner and director of an inner-city clinic. Information about...
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Medicine
Guest Blog: Reflections From a Senior Citizen
Dorothy Kligerman is ninety-five years old, widowed, with three married children, four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Her first published work appeared in February, 1931, in The Record Book of her graduating class at Simon Gratz High School in Philadelphia, PA. The next time her work appeared in print was not until the 1980s, while she was working as a reporter for the Mt. Airy Express. The paper folded at the end of that decade. Again there was a hiatus, until in 2006 she enrolled at TARP (Temple Association for Retired Persons), sponsored by Temple University, which offers many courses for senior citizens. She enrolled in the Poetry Workshop, led by the energetic and inspirational Peggy Walsh McKenna. The following poem first appeared in Pulse Magazine.
**
REFLECTIONS OF A SENIOR CITIZEN
I used to talk of fun and games
Now I talk of aches and pains.
I used to paint the town bright red
Now at nine I am in bed.
I used to dream of lovers bold.
Now, if truth be told
The only men who interest me
Are those with a medical degree.
"Why," you ask, "have they such clout?"
Well - we have so much to talk about:
There's my arthritis and stenosis,
Hypertension, scoliosis.
In a cozy room, alone, we chat.
We never have a lover's spat.
So keep your handsome Romeos
I'll always take those medicos!
- Dorothy Kligerman
- Guest Blog: The Disabled Boat
Steve Gunther-Murphy works in IT Healthcare at Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, California. He's been writing poetry since the seventh grade, has had works published in a variety of magazines and poetry journals, and has given poetry readings in Hawaii,...
- Guest Blog: Depression Session
Abby Caplin, MD, MA practices mind-body medicine and counseling in San Francisco. She helps people living with chronic medical conditions to lead empowered and vibrant lives, reclaiming their wholeness despite illness (http://www.abbycaplinmd.com/). Abby...
- Guest Blog: Cure
Veneta Masson is a registered nurse and poet living in Washington, DC. She has written three books of essays and poems, drawing on her experiences over twenty years as a family nurse practitioner and director of an inner-city clinic. Information about...
- The Value Of Teaching The History And Physical Examination
Students learn many things during their time in medical school. Some things that they learn are soon forgotten (think: the Kreb's cycle). But other things stay with them forever. I can still remember learning how to ask about thyroid symptoms from...
- The Stfm Conference On Medical Student Education
Last week I had the privilege of chairing the 37th annual STFM Conference on Medical Student Education. Until 2010, the conference was known as the STFM Predoctoral Education Conference. We changed the name to the Conference on Medical Student Education....