Roles Reversed Poem by Ananta Madhavan

There is a curious reversal of roles
As we age into abject dependence,
When we constantly feel below par,
Slower to catch up with what is going on,
What they are saying about us,
Often wanting reassurance, pills or placebos,
Tempting compensation, hope and therapy.
Call the doctor, the omniscient adviser;
There are some sympathetic listeners,
Some understanding souls, some who know
The latest in medical science and results.


We find that the doctor needs patience,
And the patient must cure him-herself.