He is a doctor, beat him up!

My childhood passion was to serve the diseased
“I'll become a doctor”, with pride I would say
"Your son is a genius”, people would say
“For a bright career, apply in medicine and pray "
I got ready to sweat and work hard
He is a doctor, beat him up!

Stayed away from home for years,
Immersed in books and journals, days and nights alike.
When I spent my youth with the patients,
Learned the art of medicine only then.
The long journey of service had thus begun
He is a doctor, beat him up!

When my engineer friends were earning dollars,
My dad paid my daily bills
When I was busy learning blood, urine and stool reports,

My parents had learnt to celebrate marriages and festivals alone.
I got ready to learn thousands of pages by heart
He is a doctor, beat him up!


Medicine is a respectable job, I thought
Knew not, reality bites very hard
My eyes are still seeking that person desperately
”Doctors get respect” he had said coolly 
I want to make him a doctor in revenge
He is a doctor, beat him up!

A child was admitted with an epilepsy attack
Medications given all but convulsions prevailed
With fatigued body and sleepy eyes,
On duty since two days was I
Fighting all the same to save a child’s life
He is a doctor, beat him up!

Darkness was enveloping me fast
Inching towards death, the child was nearing his last
Tried a lot, that death spare his soul
But alas! We could not save that tiny soul
I was cursing the God Almighty
When I heard someone say, "He is a doctor, beat him up!"

Dr Sumit Periwal
Gangtok