What the Doctor Said (Masterplots II: Poetry, Revised Edition)
At a glance:
- Author: Raymond Carver
- First Published: 1989
- Type of Work: Meditation
- Genres: Poetry, Meditation
- Subjects: Doctors, Cancer, Death or dying, Terminal illness or terminally ill, Diseases, Hospitals
The Poem
In “What the Doctor Said,” the speaker is recalling the most traumatic experience of his life. His doctor tells him he has terminal lung cancer. The fact that it is inoperable is indicated by the doctor’s statement that he quit after counting “thirty-two of them.” Twice the doctor refers to “them” as if avoiding calling “them” what they really are: malignant tumors. He does not suggest any treatment such as radiation or chemotherapy, nor does he suggest, as doctors often do, that his patient seek a second opinion. The doctor is trying to be kind but...
[The entire page is 1353 words long]
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