National Poetry Day was last Thursday (Oct 4) and this year's theme was "Stars". Our Trust Library ran a poetry competition with the same theme, inviting wards and departments to say why they are stars. Below is my effort, which I have been persuaded to share. If anyone can make use of it to promote lab medicine in newsletters, websites, on notice boards etc, feel free to do so. There is no need to attribute it. Mike ----------------------------------------------------------------- STARS "A massive luminous plasma sphere By gravity made to cohere". Thus Wikipedia dubs a star (the sort that twinkle from afar). But other stars are nearer found - The NHS with them abounds And none so bright as those you'll see At work down in Pathology. Each day (and night) this expert crew Test blood and wee and lumps and poo C&S, FBC, biopsy and LFTs We probe the causes of disease. We tell you if your theatre's clean Or if there's cancer in the spleen. We look at things that can't be seen At cells and molecules and genes. We'll diagnose a heart attack, Keep diabetics on the track And, when the blood group we've perused, We'll send you blood to be transfused We'll grow and name your patient's bugs And recommend the proper drugs. Suspect a tumour? - that's routine. We're the stars who stage and screen! So when you next send tube or pot Just pause and spare a passing thought For Path Lab stars who, out of view, Are shining brilliantly for you. ------ACB discussion List Information-------- This is an open discussion list for the academic and clinical community working in clinical biochemistry. Please note, archived messages are public and can be viewed via the internet. Views expressed are those of the individual and they are responsible for all message content. ACB Web Site http://www.acb.org.uk Green Laboratories Work http://www.laboratorymedicine.nhs.uk List Archives http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/lists/ACB-CLIN-CHEM-GEN.html List Instructions (How to leave etc.) http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/