The Patients of Job

The Doctor Geographer

maps the bones, muscles,

liver and lights.

He cures nothing.

"First do no harm."

He has sworn it:

why risk the patient?

Better to observe,

make notes and

compile his cartographer's

sketches.
 

The Nurse valet

cares, and cures

may be effected

or not...

but words, touches and tears

- the true comfort of kindness -

give power

to the powerless.

Our shining knights

are defeated in the lists

of boxes to tick

and targets to reach

whilst the counters

fail to measure

the intangible;

believing quality

a placebo,

if not a quacksalver's

potion.
 

We await the answer,

the magic bullet,

the philosopher's stone,

a fucking unicorn,

while our unpolished gem

will line the pockets

of those who

find the final

solution.