Upon Finishing Gross Anatomy; Gratitude by Claire Phillips-Latham

You suckled babies,

Used the biceps I studied

To lift and cradle

Your rising suns.

You gazed soft-eyed

Optic nerves firing,

Muscles lifting delighted smile,

Nerves and muscles you later let me see.

In life, you were a mother,

Giving love and beating heart

To raise new family

generations.

Cancer took you,

But before your work was done,

You ROSE, Lazarus-lifted,

And we opened your body,

Marvelling at the beautiful inner-workings,

I will remember

Your lungs, heart,

And purple polished nails.

Much gratitude

From another

generation of doctors

Learning to heal.