Doctors - A poem by Anne Sexton

Anne Sexton - Doctors

They work with herbs
and penicillin
They work with gentleness
and the scalpel.
They dig out the cancer,
close an incision
and say a prayer
to the poverty of the skin.
They are not Gods
though they would like to be;
they are only a human
trying to fix up a human.
Many humans die.
They die like the tender,
palpitating berries
in November.
But all along the doctors remember:
First do no harm.
They would kiss if it would heal.
It would not heal.

If the doctors cure
then the sun sees it.
If the doctors kill
then the earth hides it.
The doctors should fear arrogance
more than cardiac arrest.
If they are too proud,
and some are,
then they leave home on horseback
but God returns them on foot.

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Added: Feb 20 2003 | Viewed: 25262 times |

Comments (5)

Doctors - Comments and Information
Poet: Anne Sexton Poem: Doctors Poem of the Day: Mar 4 2010 Comment 5 of 5, added on March 4th, 2010 at 8:51 PM. Anne Sexton, "Doctors" We must remember that Anne Sexton suffered from deep depression, and her poetry grew very dark and cynical before she committed suicide. I have a wonderful doctor who is from India, and he is a very patient and caring man. Sure, some doctors are a bit arrogant but, by and large, they are dedicated to saving human life. Art chapman from United States Comment 4 of 5, added on November 6th, 2008 at 12:09 PM. Her poem is right on the mark. Having been to many many doctors, I understand vividly the "God Complex" they share. Patients are mere mortals to them. Reeshard Dooglas from United States Comment 3 of 5, added on October 26th, 2008 at 12:13 PM. While you have a great poem, i generally disagree with the notion that they have God complex. I think that everyone of us (including those who are not doctors) would like to save lives. They just seem all knowing because they have indeed studied hard (as in awfully hard) for such kind of knowledge. The things that they have to go through before they cn actually become one are beyond human endurance. I think that All doctors only have the best interests at heart. Still, its a great poem:) princess from Philippines More Comments >> Are you looking for more information on this poem? Perhaps you are trying to analyze it? The poem, Doctors, has received 5 comments. Click here to read them, and perhaps post a comment of your own.

Poem Info
Poet: Anne Sexton Poem: Doctors Last read: 2013-05-22 11:36:23 Poem of the Day: Mar 4 2010 Viewed 25262 times. Added Feb 20 2003.

Sexton Info
Biography More Poems (172 poems) Anne Sexton books