文档介绍：MEDICINE,SCIENCE, AND SOCIETY
Christmas, 1985: Medical Intensive Care Unit
R. DWAINERIEVES, ., Bethesda, Maryland
Shortly before midnight, the nurses’ plete,
another battle-weary day is tucked away.
This small ward’s indifference seems mellowed
by the ecru haze from corner lamps.
Christmas Eve in this war. field is quiet now.
The to and fro of three lung pumps, the sole sound.
One at a gallop, others in synchrony, swaying an artificial breeze
among sedated men, hopefully oblivious to this desperate reprieve.
Our holiday-gaudy unit ensconces three chambers,
the day’s turbulence replaced with a resolute peace.
The chamber residents, I suspect, amused at our vigilant patrols.
Futility was never so embarrassing.
An eerie crew, these chambers’ content.
Not old, deformities few. Something seems amiss.
Why are you here, young soldier-tenants,
and why deceive us so?
The scars discreetly hidden, the ashes of immunity internal.
Our sensibility answers the prose.
Yet, impostors seem here. Are the truly sick gone?
No, these are Trojan men, among a battle-quiet now.
Daring young rebel in the corner,
Buddha at your feet, your flight raged long,
claiming years of prodigal need.
Profligate perhaps, by others’ scale, the family name abandoned.
I hope you know, we are not alone.
A father is poised, outside the d