DOCTOR STRONG.

See AN for context.

sitting on the fine line

between sane and sound,

i met you in the interim

of what was meant to be.

in the valley of the hurting,

i rose with sword and shield

to save skeletons beneath me,

to bring peace within the crypt.

you found me there, 

and i found you.

wandering halls and

nighttime routines.

sane and sound.

you found me there.

sane and sound.

you found me there.

sweet autumn eyes

and charming smile,

art that covers

all your skin.

your hands pulled apart

those who tried to do harm,

the same hands brought comfort

to those who came to you.

the duality of you

colouring monochromatic skies.

i loved you in the chaos,

now i love you in the peace.

Author's Note

Context:

My husband and I met working at a psych hospital together. He worked with the adults, and I worked with pediatric patients.
Per hospital policy, anytime a patient was escalating to a point of physical intervention needing to happen, they would call the code over the speakers for the entire hospital to hear, so any available staff could come help. The code was called "Doctor Strong"! So, anytime it was necessary to call a restraint team, you'd hear "Doctor Strong to Unit ___, Doctor Strong to Unit ___", and then thats how people would know where to go and what kind of altercation they were walking into. (They had a different code for patients who needed verbal de-escalation, but I wont mention it here, as I feel it would be too revealing.)

My husband would often show up to my unit when we would call for a Doctor Strong, so I eventually just started associating him with safety: if I saw him, I knew he was coming to my rescue. Eventually we struck up a conversation, and the rest is history!

Reviews

[Michael Sun Bear]

Emunah dear, I read your poem before reading your notes on context. Having previously read your profile, having spent time myself as a patient in a psych ward, I found your poem beautiful but not mysterious. It was all pretty clear to me, your strong imagery summoned my own memories. I particularly enjoyed your reference to your husband’s tats; it seems these days that the majority of people in a psych ward, patients and staff both, are heavily inked up. I love your lines alternating the emphasis of “you found me there.” Personally I don’t feel the poem needs explanation and I feel your lengthy self-interpretation dulls the beauty, blunts the joy of reading it “as is.” I would drop the explanation, you can always respond individually if a reader asks for an explanation of any part of the poem. I am happy for the two of you, finding enduring love in a house of so much pain. I would be honored if you would read my poem Lockdown On The Psych Ward. MSB

[Emunah June.]

You know what, I appreciate that. I didnt consider perhaps it would take away from the overall feels, so I thank you for taking the time to point that out. I'll go ahead and remove that! Thank you! I'll be checking out your poem as well, as I would love to view this from your perspective as well.