Semi-story

her words
told a story
of the power
of presence
and proximity,
but her eyes
savored the sight
of whatever
she saw
in the silence
that was still
curiously unclear
in the distance

Notes from the interview that inspired this poem:

She had just finished a long hospital shift and was tired, but also grateful for the space to pause and reflect on her experiences and story. After months of physical distancing from others and not being able to be present in the hospital, she was appreciating the team of colleagues she had been working with, even though they’d been seeing patients with difficult social and emotional challenges. “Coming together at the end of the day to collaborate with others across disciplines to provide the best overall healthcare is part of what brought me into medicine,” she said. As we continued to talk, I was struck by how she seemed to savor the moments of silence and stillness even more than the sharing. As she reflected, she would gaze to the side, and each time I noticed a deeply curious look in her eyes. It gave me the sense that she could see or sense something that wasn’t quite ready to be spoken, or that she was anticipating exciting possibilities on the horizon. “I’d like the poem to offer a moment of pondering,” she said.

Interviewee: Anonymous, Medical Student
Listener Poet: Jenny Hegland