Practicing the Practice of Medicine

A PATIENT

AT A TEACHING HOSPITAL

is a canary in an over-sized Johnny,

singing the same old song, ad nauseum, in an antiseptic aviary,

to a pecking order consisting of dozens of very nice people,

wearing scrubs or lab coats and stethoscope necklaces,

so that they look like they must know something,

but fearfully confined to their assigned role,

never “the right person to ask”, and

apparently way too busy rotating

to actually talk with one another

as we used to do before the coup

when computers took control

of all communication,

or so it seems to me
from my perch.

Equal space will be afforded 

to responsible spokespersons with an opposing point of view, 

as long as their response is in the shape of R2D2 or C3P0, 

rather than the shape of Yoda. 

On Angels and Messengers

I did not write the following poem.  The author is a man much wiser than I could ever hope to be:   Rabbi Harold Kushner.  I suspect that the introductory paragraph is just that.   Most sources begin the poem with "Each Lifetime ...."


There must have been a time when you entered a room and met someone and after a while you understood that unknown to either of you there was a reason you had met. You had changed the other and he had changed you. By some word or deed or just by your presence the errand had been completed. Then perhaps you were a little bewildered or humbled and grateful. And it was over.


Each lifetime is the pieces of a jigsaw puzzle.
For some there are more pieces.
For others the puzzle is more difficult to assemble.

Some seem to be born with a nearly completed puzzle.
And so it goes.
Souls going this way and that.
Trying to assemble the myriad parts.

But know this. No one has within themselves

All the pieces to their puzzle.

Like before the days when they used to seal

jigsaw puzzles in cellophane. Insuring that

All the pieces were there.

Everyone carries with them at least one and probably
Many pieces to someone else's puzzle.
Sometimes they know it.
Sometimes they don't.

And when you present your piece

Which is worthless to you,

To another, whether you know it or not,

Whether they know it or not,

You are a messenger from the Most High 

(Rabbi Harold Kushner 1977,Honey from the Rock, pp. 69-70).

Respect

Do not demand to get respect.
Respect is something you must earn.
The only way you can expect
to get respect is in return.

Having a Fundraiser?

All I need is a photo or two, 

           and I'll do a pen & ink of your church, business, home or boat.  

Ridiculously low rates, until I get famous.  That could be a while.  

Contact VinLucid@GMail.com

VERDI'S REQUIEM

 (with apologies to his countrymen, 
                        especially the Gambino Family)

A composer whose name was "Giuseppe"

Wrote a Requiem ever-so-peppy.

When heard by the Pope,

He shook his head "Nope!",

"I'm-a supposed to be-a sad, 
                                    but I'm-a heppy!?"

Lost Art Notecards are now on the market

Sold locally in packs of 8 identical cards with envelopes.  Blank inside.
Will be available on-line sooner or later.

 

 

 

Yet More Drawings

Did these in Pen and Ink -- sometimes a little charcoal -- for a series of notecards ... now available locally ... eventually to be available on line from this website.   8 identical cards per pack, with envelopes... about $7.

There's no caption on the next two, 'cause I dreamt them up.   The first one was inspired by Thirteenth Lake in the Adirondacks.  The last one just appeared gradually in my sketchbook when I sat down to draw ... I'm not sure why or how.

I call them "Lost Art Notecards" ... because writing  handwritten notes is becoming a lost art, thanks to texting and email.  I figure I have a moral obligation  ...  to cash in on it, of course. It's the least I can do, don'tcha think?.

More Drawings -- Pen & Ink & Charcoal

 

My Church -- in 1911 and 2011 -- original, freehand pen & ink

 

Some Portraits of the Only Model Who Would Pose for Me

 

LOOKING YOUTHFUL: Another Semi-Serious Sonnet

If you want to look young, just consider the crayon.

There are some that will alwaysok new.

With tips that stay sharp and wrappers that stay on;

But not Red, Yellow, Purple or Blue.

Likewise, Orange and Green are quite quickly worn down

'Til just a dull stub doth remain.

Even gloomier shades, like the Black and the Brown,

Are soon sticks made of wax on the wane.

Yet the Okra, the White and perhaps the Chartreuse,

With their wrappers that haven't been torn,

Simply stay in their box for they don't get much use,

So their points hardly ever look worn.

But what pride can you take appearing so youthful,

If it means that you're not very useful?

Author's Comment:

Many well-preserved people lead useful lives.  In fact, keeping busy helps keeps you young.  This poem refers to those among us who value appearance only  ~  and don't look deeper.   I'd like to incorporate this point into the poem ...  but who ever heard of a sonnet with three stanzas?

IN THE BEGINNINGS: A Semi-serious Sonnet

So ...

God rested on the seventh day.

We have accepted that on faith.

But Scripture doesn't really say

what He did on Day the Eighth.

It seems that only Heaven knows

just how God spent that second week

With omnipotence would you suppose

He'd hit the beach in Martinique?

No!

Creators don't stop making things!

He would make some more dimensions

Full of divine imaginings,

    truly marvelous inventions,

        and Creatures unlike me and you.

That is what creators do!

A FATHER'S LULLABY: There Will Always Be Dragons to Slay

Play-along

Free sheet music

Lucid, Vincent There Will Always Be Dragons to Slay (A Father's Lullaby) + MP3 (human interpretation) / MIDI Voice, Strings ensemble Celtic / 2010 V. J. Lucid © All rights reserved Make a donation to Vincent Lucid Powered by Free-scores.com

My Music

Here's a convenient way to listen to some of my serious compositions.
http://drspeedbump.com/music/jutebox.html
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Lamb of God (St. Cecelia's Mass of Hope)

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Lucid, Vincent Lamb of God (St Cecelia's Mass of Hope) + MP3 (digital interpretation) / MIDIChoral SATB Mass; Choir; Sacred / 2006 V. J. Lucid © All rights reserved Make a donation to Vincent Lucid Powered by Free-scores.com

Glory to God (St. Cecelia's Mass of Hope )

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Lucid, Vincent Glory to God (St Cecelia's Mass of Hope) + MP3 (digital interpretation) / MIDI Choral SATB Mass; Choir; Sacred / 2010 V. J. Lucid © All rights reserved Make a donation to Vincent Lucid Powered by Free-scores.com

Ave! Maria

My Ave Maria has been downloaded nearly 400 times by visitors from about 70 countries, including: Iran, Iraq, Egypt, Sri Lanka, Thailand, Japan, China, Jibouti, Ivory Coast and other surprising places. Thanks to Google and the other search engines that put it on page 1 of an image search.  Go figure !

Lucid, Vincent Ave Maria + MP3 (digital interpretation) / MIDIPiano and Voice Mass; Choir; Sacred / 2003, 2010 Vincent J. Lucid © All rights reserved Make a donation to Vincent Lucid Powered by Free-scores.com