Yesterday I saw
Amidst a sea of grey on metal frames
Sharp words and tender actions
A gruff growl to stop her kicking
Shoes taken off as gently as a slipper
Mother, he spits but softer glances
Her tremors encased in his calloused hands
The cough racks through her question mark frame,
Bent over, asking if he can stay
He lingers, then.
Oh, this too, is love.

This poem was inspired by experiences during my geriatrics rotation where I witnessed families express profound love for their elderly parents through actions, words, and quiet gestures of care. In this particular case, though the elderly patient’s son spoke with the weight of anxiety, exhaustion, and perhaps frustration after countless hours attending to her needs, his tender actions told a different story; in his undeniable patience and devotion, I recognized one of medicine’s most heartwarming revelations: there are many ways to love.

Jacqueline Jin is a second-year medical student at Duke-NUS Medical School in Singapore. She majored in chemistry during her undergraduate studies and has a deep passion for literature and the arts, which she believes are at the core of our humanity. She sees medicine in a similar light, as a way to inspire and connect people across all differences—age, race, religion, or gender. Through her writing and her future medical practice, she hopes to touch hearts and make meaningful connections.