STAND STILL
Written because of the confusing and exciting process of choosing a specialty in medicine, a fleeting destination that I soon hope to arrive at.
Lost in the chaos of medicine's art,
In trauma surgery, a student plays their part.
With chest tube in hand, holding tight,
In trauma's grip, where time is light.
Cracking the code of specialty's call,
Is this just another episode's thrall?
Which path to choose, a daunting muse,
In this haze, can I but hit snooze?
If med school's the marriage, binding and bold,
Specialty's choice, a child to behold.
Commitment resounds, consequences profound,
Medicine's chaos, a marvel unbound.
Lost in the maze of my own creation,
Seeking clarity, a clear destination.
The poet's wisdom whispers, "Stand still,
The forest surrounds you, calm and still."
Embrace the "now," a powerful stranger,
Approach with pediatric naivete, no danger.
The present is a powerful teacher.
Learn, grow, from this moment's might,
For tomorrow's present, a continuing flight.
In the journey of healing, a student evermore,
Lost in medicine's lore, where arrival's just a step, not the final score.
Eliyas Asfaw, a second-year medical student at the University of Michigan, penned this poem to navigate the tumultuous yet exhilarating journey of choosing a medical specialty—a destination he eagerly anticipates reaching. His passion for poetry is deeply rooted in the pages of the Bible and Shahnameh, where he discovered the art's ability to elegantly immortalize memories and emotions. With aspirations to publish his poetic works, Eliyas also holds a bachelor's degree in public health from the University of Michigan.
Eliyas Asfaw