Confessions of a Medical Student

When I walk in with my white coat

And a stethoscope over my neck,

I’m here to tell you

That I know no more about your body

Than you do.

I want to tell you

That I really mean it when I say, I’m sorry to hear that

That even as a kid when my mother was sick

I would imagine her pain as a bully I could persuade

Or an insect I could catch with my bare hands.

I want to tell you

That there is a quick fix to your trouble,

That if it existed, I would go look for it like Jason did with the golden fleece

And bring it to you.

But I need to tell you

There is so much I still don’t know,

That even if I’ve seen every nerve/muscle/vessel of a human body

I will never know the thoughts that ran through a person’s mind

As they approached death, or saw their loved ones around them.

And I want to tell you

That I’m sorry our appointment has to be this short,

That I cannot stay and hear more about your life and worries

And the things that made you smile as we talked.

So before we part, I’d like to tell you

That even if I can’t diagnose you

Or make you feel any better

I will remember you,

And I will pray that health

Will find its way to you soon.

By Jung Woo Bae