Meditations on Medicine
A collection of poems entitled “Meditations on Medicine.”
Tag: prose
Resident Physician Contributing Writer
University Hospital of Krakow, Poland
Adrian Poniatowski is native New Yorker and a physician poet. He studied history at Cornell University before going on to finish medical school in Poland at Jagiellonian University. He received an appointment to stay on at his alma mater as Lecturer in Pathophysiology, in addition to his duties as an intern physician at the University Hospital of Krakow, Poland. He draws inspiration from his Catholic faith and long walks spent meditating on the sublime beauty of daily life. His artistic motto is Ars neptis Dei, a paraphrase from the
Divine Comedy proclaiming that “Art is the granddaughter of God.”
The Applause
When the COVID-19 alarms were raised, I got ready for battle against the virus the world was fighting, only to later feel cut off from “the cause” as my efforts to volunteer outside of my daily work were denied time and again. Some might call it luck, but for me, it felt isolating.
Where I’m Meant To Be
As I enter rooms filled with aerosolized forms of the coronavirus, realizing that I am at high risk of catching this highly contagious disease, I set aside my fears to hold the hands of patients — strangers and friends, all alike. I love what I do.
Meditations on Family
A collection of poems entitled “Meditations on Family.”
Meditations on God
A collection of poems entitled “Meditations on God.”
The Telling
I recall my father sitting on a small stool in the kitchen / dialing friends and family, one by one, rippling outward
To My Mentors
I did not stay down / I did not give up
No Insurance
my patient does not have insurance / he asks me to address his concerns
Healing in Relationship Lies
Illness lies hidden in our ways / Influenced by the unconscious gaze.
T-Cell
“One” / It read. / Unassuming in black and white
A Second Home (2019)
Scared and frightened, we came in as interns / We had the knowledge, but we needed direction
Pondering the Human Experience: A Quartet of Poems
To help a soul / To heal a wound / To hold a hand / To walk again
Resident Physician Contributing Writer
Tufts University School of Medicine
I am an orthopaedic surgery resident at Tufts University School of Medicine. I have been writing poetry since middle school, and this outlet has helped me reflect and process life's challenges, including finding my way in medicine. I am excited to share my thoughts written from the past few years with the medical community through in-House. May they bring some new meaning for you.