Dr Zhaohui Su shares her poetic approach to engage more deeply with the complexities of medicine and aims to foster a greater sense of empathy and awareness in healthcare.
Live, I Must
Today of all days
I am afraid
For things and prospects beyond the grasp
Dormant, death, and doom
All options are furthering away from good old hopes
My good old hopes
With thriving remains the unwavering light
Survive, I must
Today of all days
I cut myself some slack
For things and burdens beyond the grasp
Doldrums, dread, and drained
All options are too close to imminent—yet slow—demise
My imminent yet excruciating demise
With trying remains the working instinct
Breathe, I must
Today of all days
I gave myself a pad on the back
For things and cuts beyond the grasp
Dismissed, disrespected, and disserted
All options are chipping my spirit and drive
My spirit and drive
With fighting remains the undying mindset
Live, I must
Author’s Contextual Note
This poem aims to shed light on the resilient and versatile agency almost all of us have in times of profound life changes, especially when loss, trauma, and grief are the most intense and encroaching. Leveraging recurring motifs of survival, striving, and self-affirmation, the poem hopes to capture the universal human experience that is striving to live with dignity, with a cross-cultural lens that underlines spiritual well-being and social obligations, while upholding individual aspirations. Drawing from traditional Chinese philosophy and teachings, such as Confucianism, which advocates for perseverance in the face of adversity (Tu, 1998; Shek, Yu & Fu, 2013; Xie & Wong, 2020), the poem also sheds light on how these cultural underpinnings can inform individuals’ exploration of mental health and personal strength. To live, after all, is the most innocent yet urgent existential imperative of us all.
No, Not Really, No
No moving forward
No going back
“This is it”, a seemingly inevitable conclusion at the time
“Stuck has become the new norm”
“No, not really, no”
Life disagreed and retorted loudly enough
With enough humbling ups and downs to make everything more
Be careful what you assume or lose sleep for
You never know what surprises are still in store, even for the struggling you
No letting up
No settling down
“This is it”, a seemingly inevitable conclusion at the time
“Lost has become the new norm”
“No, not really, no”
Life disagreed and retorted loudly enough
With enough luck and serendipity to make stories unlost and retold
Be careful what you assume or lose sleep for
You never know what surprises are still in store, even for the failing you
No happily ever after
No serenity undisturbed
“This is it”, a seemingly inevitable conclusion at the time
“Fidgety has become the new norm”
“No, not really, no”
Life disagreed and retorted loudly enough
With enough curveball wonders and unexpected smiles met and found
Be careful what you assume or lose sleep for
You never know what surprises are still in store, even for the still improving you
Author’s Contextual Note
This poem aims to examine the complexities embedded in living in the modern world and the unpredictability of life. The poem sets out to explore the prevalent presence of existential despair, which is most pronounced in people caught in the rapid and disruptive challenges of life, like multiple and oftentimes debilitating and dehumanizing diseases. Rooted in philosophical teachings such as Daoism, which endorses the fluid nature of existence and the inherent unpredictability of life’s journey (Miller, 2003; Wei, 2024; Mou & Tieszen, 2013), the poem invites readers to consider how minds and mindsets, such as personal narratives and cultural frames, influence our understanding of crisis and ability to adapt and make change. By analysing the tension between acceptance of one’s circumstances and the agency for renewal, which is epitomized in the repetitions of “No, not really, no”, the poem wishes to highlight the resilience that can be found—if we are willing to try—in each and every one of us, a must-have in life that is not only deemed as a virtuous capability, but also a liberating power by many cultures (Ungar, 2008; Theron & Liebenberg, 2015; Rogers, Bohland & Lawrence, 2020).
About the Author
Dr. Zhaohui Su is professor at Southeast University and a prolific poet. Her poetry draws on her research expertise in health technologies, mental health, and public policy, positioning her uniquely to provide insightful commentary on contemporary issues affecting society. Dr Su’ works, which often stem from real-world public health problems, aim to illuminate the struggles that hinder both personal growth and advancements in health equity. She believes that through poetry, she can evoke emotions and provoke thoughts that may lead to actionable changes in public health policies and community initiatives.
References
Miller, J. 2003. “Daoism and Nature.” In Nature Across Cultures: Views of Nature and the Environment in Non-Western Cultures, edited by Helaine Selin. Springer: 393-409.
Mou, B., & Tieszen, R. 2013. Constructive Engagement of Analytic and Continental Approaches in Philosophy: From the Vantage Point of Comparative Philosophy. Brill.
Rogers, P., Bohland, J. J., & Lawrence, J. 2020. “Resilience and Values: Global Perspectives on the Values and Worldviews Underpinning the Resilience Concept.” Political Geography 83: 102280.
Shek, D. T. L., Yu, L., & Fu, X. 2013. “Confucian Virtues and Chinese Adolescent Development: A Conceptual Review.” International Journal of Adolescent Medicine and Health 25(4):335–344.
Theron, L. C., & Liebenberg, L. 2015. “Understanding Cultural Contexts and Their Relationship to Resilience Processes.” In Youth Resilience and Culture: Commonalities and Complexities, edited by L. C. Theron, L. Liebenberg, & M. Ungar. Springer: 23-36.
Tu, W.-M. 1998. “Confucius and Confucianism.” In Confucianism and the Family, edited by Walter H. Slote & George A. De Vos. SUNY: 3-36.
Ungar, M. 2008. “Resilience across Cultures.” The British Journal of Social Work 38(2): 218-235.
Wei, Z. 2024. “Daoist Time and Its Implications for Reconceptualizing the Ecological System Theory.” In Educational Research and the Question(s) of Time, edited by D. R. Cole, M. M. Rafe, & G. Y. A. Yang-Heim. Springer Nature: 463-482.
Xie, Q., & Wong, D. F. K. 2020. “Culturally Sensitive Conceptualization of Resilience: A Multidimensional Model of Chinese Resilience.” Transcultural Psychiatry 58(3), 323-334.
