The eye dilated in the physician’s dark exam room,
While into it the eyes of new white coats loom,
From this eye I am learning,
What is normal and what is concerning.
I direct: look up, down, left and right,
Meanwhile shining an ironically blinding light.
To you this is a strange affair,
I watch you fidget while into your eye I stare,
Front to back as a medical student I observe,
Your cornea, pupil, lens, retina and optic nerve.
The view into an eye is breathtakingly mysterious,
And I am a blundering Odysseus,
Struggling to orient direction,
Not to get lost in the reflection.
I imagine what you see,
Looking back at me.
Watching for a hint towards a diagnosis,
Wondering about your prognosis.
Of these things I am unsure,
My accumulation of knowledge still immature.
The marvelous organ of sight,
Illuminated bright,
The iris glows hues of brown and blue,
Gentle sparkles dance across this privileged view.
By looking in at something made to see out,
A person you can learn a vast amount.
Thank you for allowing this interlude,
From the typical unidirectional solitude.
In this brief encounter I have learned a great deal,
I sincerely thank you for teaching me how to better heal.
Contributing Author Emeritus
Georgetown University Hospital
Dr. Kaitlyn Dykes is an Internal Medicine resident at Georgetown University Hospital, in Washington DC. She completed medical school at Thomas Jefferson University in Philadelphia Pennsylvania and was a part of the clinical research tract. She completed her bachelors of science in Genetics, Cell Biology and Cell Development with a minor in Art History at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. She her most recent research is in the field of hematology oncology. Additionally she is actively involved in medical education. Hobbies include reading, painting, visiting museums (when they are open), and enjoying time with friends and family. She hopes to pursue a career in hematology-oncology.