!DOCTYPE html> html> head lang=”en-US”> title>The Solitary Oak on Mount Kremlin-Bicêtre by T. Wignesan/title> /div> div itemprop=”genre” id=”content”> p> for Jean Lapresle, the “Father” of neuro-pathology in France: 1909-2000 /p> p>On Bicêtre Mount a stately oak did spread its unmeshed /p> p> boughs to swarms of sparrows beating retreat /p> p>To turtle-doves and flapping pigeon-mates a frolicksome/p> p> haven/p> p>Where now on thunder-split crutches hop the mocking /p> p> magpie/p> p>Its black upturned tail uppity down high-domed arches’/p> p> smooth-shorn limbs/p> p>Desolate within chilled-threaded casements of fading/p> p> green/p> p>Sleek crows guard the sentinel post where gentle souls/p> p> tread lonesome/p> p>Once his benign fiery eye caught the tame light in lame/p> p> downcast distress/p> p>Novice and apprentis sorciers sought the shelter of his /p> p> umbrella wing/p> p>The charge-nurse at his beck and call/p> p>Under the official seal of his high personal chair/p> p>Now the lordly craftsman called to lay down his tools in/p> p> honorary quack contempt/p> p>By some aging loyal birds too meek to fly away/p> p>Too lame to avoid the headlong charge down tearing fate/p> p>Had him appear in white blouson for the nonce’s sake/p> p>No nurse to jump at the phone’s end /p> p>No student his ears peeled to every question/p> p>No professorial stamp at his command/p> p>“You know he takes no new patients…”/p> p>The voice trailing hoarse and dead/p> p>Carting rough brown bulky dossiers in his failing arms/p> p>Furtive /p> p> Distraught/p> p> A Visitor in his home/p> p>Nay A thief in his fiefdom/p> p>He stalks a room any room for a moment’s reprieve/p> p>The hand now shaky/p> p>The date a tussle with memory/p> p>Then the long unnoticed wait at the central desk/p> p>To ask for his patient the next bi-annual appointment/p> p> Patient/p> p> Like a patient /p> p>A whole life ministering to other personal needs/p> p>“When you no more have the charge of the place…”/p> p>His eyes want to plead in lieu of apology/p> p>Then abruptly the bi-annual rendez-vous is blocked/p> p>No excuse no reason is proffered/p> p>Only by chance you surmise/p> p> The frail fallen oak lies limp in some forsaken lot/p> br> /body> /html>
