Communication Is Key

Nomenclature
It tumbles down
“Erm, sorry what…”
Before I’ve finished

Doctors disperse
Onto the next
Lost amongst words
I’m left alone

Ears resonate
“Abnormal growth”
Is it cancer?
Surely they’d say

Or perhaps not
A biopsy
Hello, we’ll see
What does it mean?

In despair I search
Looking all around
Drips, nurses, drugs
Chaotic blur

I listen out
Still no answers
Is this the way
For a patient

Steps echoing
Heels strike louder
Senses retune
Chaos dismissed

Prussian blue dress
Like a summer nigh,
Her beaming face
Fragrant aura

Holding my hand
Wrapped in comfort
No more flutter
I feel relaxed

Softly spoken
Explanation
Reassurance
Confusion gone

So you will see
All I need
Is a little
Communication

Conflict of interest
None declared.

Declaration
This is the author’s original unpublished work, and has not been submitted for publication elsewhere.

Ankeet Jethwa*

About the Author

Ankeet Jethwa is a surgical trainee in East Midlands, England. Following his training at Balliol College, University of Oxford, he completed the Academic Foundation rotation in Edinburgh. He has a keen interest in game‑changing innovation in healthcare and is conducting research into non‑invasive scarless surgery.