Poetry competition entries
11 October 2021 (Last updated: 20 Oct 2021 10:55)
This year's BAOMS Artistic challenge was a Poetry Competition with prizes which were awarded at the Annual Scientific Meeting at the Diamond Centre in Sheffield.
The winners were James Brown - The Operation and Krishantini Mahendran - Fix My Face.
You can see the winners' poems along with the other entries here.
JAMES BROWN (1) - Retired Fellow
The Operation
Treating diseases, injuries, or deformity by operating,
Is how the work of a surgeon is often described.
How can cutting out a growth from the mouth, face, or neck
Successfully treat the condition from which it arrived.
But it is not the surgeon that decides anymore,
but a very large group called an MDT
We all agree that surgery is the best way to proceed
And with consent all is prepared, and made surgically clean
It’s difficult to put into words the feeling of operating.
The sounds of the suction, drill or the saw
And after the trachy and then neck dissection-
it’s time to remove the mass, growth, lump or the cancer,
Although what we called it that day, I’m not sure.
The defect left by the surgery can now be repaired.
They bring in the microscope and the theatre is hushed.
It’s like diving or snorkelling in that the scene is transformed
To a magnified colour and shape which is always so special.
If only this part of the procedure was not so important,
the delve into this world would be that more enjoyable.
But it has all gone so well, and we needn’t have worried.
There is a buzz in the OR as leaving preparations proceed.
Just a transfer to ITU for the proper doctors to take charge
and we as a team can enjoy the last coffee we still need
Its always worth waiting an hour or so before leaving.
A last look in the unit and a chat to the family,
All treatments can be considered a duty of care
But this is special and different and of that I’m aware.
(276 words)
KRISHANTINI MAHENDRAN (4) - Junior Trainee
Fix my Face
The mask comes off and I see the lump
“Fix my face. Fix my face,” I hear him grunt
A lump so large, I put up a front
“It’s not so bad, it adds a charm”
A blank stare followed by an order - “Fix my face. Fix my face.”
Oh boy, if only I had a recorder.
I go through the options and all I see is horror
It appears I have made an error
For the lump was a welcomed boarder
But the little scar under his chin, the true unruly deceptor
“Fix my face. Fix my face” I recount to the surgeons
Oh, what an unfortunate diversion.
SHO Heroes
Bleep – check
DECT – check
Torch – check
Pen – check
Deep breath in, 1.. 2.. 3..
and GO.
Slipping and sliding through the ward
Like a Vampire, I draw blood from the crowd
Hunger and fatigue often ignored
Until all patients restored.
They didn’t give us a cape on our first day,
but what they needed was a superhero to make it all okay.
As I slipped and slid through the hay
My hunger and fatigue turned to dismay
I wondered if the clapping would be enough to make me stay
But there’s something in the chaos... I just can’t keep away.
Where is the Doctor?
Pink scrubs, that’ll how you’ll find me
Hair back tight in a pony
Petite, but definitely not a phony
Where is the doctor?
I stand across from the patient wondering what I’ve said in error.
Where is the doctor?
The nurses potter.
Where is the doctor?
They page for a protector.
Where is the doctor?
My phone rings –
“Hello... I am the doctor”
Moving On
Bright blue eyes and a piercing gaze
I find myself in a daze
My face contorts in horror
I’m holding back the furor
Barely a teen, only thirteen
Battered and bruised, left for the refuse
I watch the despair in her mother’s eyes
The scars will heal but the trauma survives
I stroke her hair as they put her to sleep
I pray my hands wash away the hurt as she weeps
I fix her face, I know the theory
And as she wakes, I marvel at her new story
Will this new chapter fix her last?
Did I manage to put it all in the past?
AUSTEN SMITH (4) - Fellow
Fixing your Face: 1
When putting it all back together;
It's crucial to find out, if ever
- the patients "old jaw"
Went behind - or before
Or the ham in his sandwich wont sever !
Fixing your Face: 2
A deformity surgeon named Raikes
Had a problem - he developed the "shakes"
He found that his wavy incisions
Meant key parts had drifted positions ,
So he shifted the rest
In the way he thought best
So the shadows would hide his mistakes
Fixing your Face: 3
We know that it wasn’t your own fault -
Life choices, events , ... and your luck.
But the mess it has made of your features,
Gives testament : how you were struck.
It's hard to accept theres such damage;
Its clear that you wish there were none.;
but "reality dawns" - and you have to accept
we face some real challenges, anon.
Our team will assemble , asses, & make plans;
the object - to safely replace,
the fragmented bone , the soft tissue drape:
& give you the best of your face.
Its not new to us, we do service
many similar humans; - all types.
Its just "what we do" - the career we chose -
we will fulfil our duties - no gripes.
Bear in mind it also does "damage"
to those of us paid to perform :
Its not the poor pay, nor the draining demand;
We despair people just wont "reform".
Its not "Tom & Jerry" -the face dont spring back;
The impact's "traumatically stressed"....
Whether mental or body, it takes time to heal,
& we hope you'll recover , ...- impressed.
Fixing your (his) face: 4
We got it lined up , and immobile..
We selected some plates , ... and some screws .
"Boss" leaned on the bits for a long while,
as I dithered on which ones to use.
Fatiguing our fingers seemed futile -
the pieces just seemed to refuse ...
So we employed a "technical erstwhile"
- and went for a cuppa - to muse .
On reflecting, reviewing our op style,
we decided the tactics to choose -
& "fast bleeped" our new doctor meanwhile;
A white witch , who "well-doing" did ooze.
The result of the X-Ray to reconcile,
was a perfect reduction, - great news!
But dont tell our patient , he's "hostile"....
and we fear , - "if he knows, then he sues" !!
JULIE POTTER (2) - Junior Trainee
Fixing your face: 1
Be it the pounding punch, the airbag blow or the roundhouse kick,
We see the same worried eyes, awaiting their fix
Juniors strain as surgeons mumble,
Wise nurses direct as they fumble,
Then out they go, free at last, ready to test their new.. whoops! *click*
Fixing your Face: 2
We fix their faces, we are here to serve,
With repetitive advice of pureed Hors-d'œuvres,
We juggle, we study, we joke,
Deciding what to touch and where to poke,
We continue until wise and calm, until our job is marked as reserved.
View Other News