CHEST Guidelines-RECEIVING-FRIENDS

RECEIVING-FRIENDS_chest

Pdf Summary

The poem "Receiving Friends," authored by Ronald H. Lands, MD, explores the poignant realities of grief and the ineffectiveness of clichéd comfort phrases often used to console the bereaved. Lands, who has dedicated over 30 years to Hematology/Oncology, expresses the entwined relationship between his medical vocation and his writing avocation. The poem personifies death as an "old man’s friend," who partakes in the ritual of a wake with mourners and then quietly departs, mimicking the actions of a real friend. However, the pervasive presence of death lingers, symbolized by the deceased’s untouched belongings and the vacant chair that remains a fixture in the narrator’s memory.<br /><br />The editor’s note highlights the poem’s thematic alignment with the struggles and concerns faced by those in the medical community, especially within the realm of dealing with mortality and loss. It mentions the submission guidelines for the "Pectoriloquy" section of CHEST, an outlet for physicians to share poetry related to their professional experiences, emphasizing that submissions should be no longer than 350 words and must be original and unpublished. <br /><br />The summary of the poem reflects the essence of loss and remembrance, illustrating the emotional residue left behind by a loved one’s passing. This creative outlet allows medical professionals like Lands to express the human side of dealing with patients and mortality, shedding light on the deeper emotional connections that extend beyond clinical interactions.

Keywords

grief

comfort phrases

Ronald H. Lands

Hematology/Oncology

death personification

medical community

mortality

Pectoriloquy

poetry

emotional connections