'Oh Doctor, Doctor, do something,
you said the test was bad.
I felt terrific, like a king,
you asked me if I had
been tested for obscure conditions,
from dandruff to old bones.
When I declined you made decisions
and talked in serious tones.
So here I am, I paid the nurse
for all the tests and scans.
I hope you can prevent the hearse
from getting me or Stan.'
'We've led a life of moderation
and never smoked or drank.
Would God show us consideration
or what, please Doc, be frank.
You say gray hair and cracking nails,
and Stan is hard of hearing.
So, does this mean the system fails?
What is it you are fearing? '
'And did you know that our son
works for Big Pharma now?
He likes his job and says it's fun
and then he tells us how
he bribes the doctors every day,
so they will do more testing,
and write prescriptions so they may
do maximum investing.'
'But no offense, we know that you
ain't one of those who take
the last ten cents like others do,
we know you aren't a fake.
So we go home and put a plate
on our kitchen table.
And take, before it is too late
our pills. And we are able
to come back as you say next week
for further exploration.
It's good to know that you do seek
before your Rome vacation,
the very best for Stan and me
with forty-seven pills,
to keep us healthy, strong and free
and fix all our ills.
Herbert Nehrlich
http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/the-honest-doctor/
