'Hospital Haiku'

The new interns
      Stiff in starched white suits.
The July heat!


Grinning into
      The newborn nursery
A man holding daisies.


Screaming objections
      In the hospital lobby--
A small naked boy.


All night below zero.
      Today in the clinic
New complaints of chest pain.


Resting on the stairs
      An old man with a large chest
And a cigarette.


Holding daffodils
      Near the hospital florist--
An old woman, weeping.


Only one room is lit
      In the hospital tonight--
And the August moon!


Beside this death bed
      Two old men
Embracing.

     -- Dr K. D. Beernink