Irving Kaufman, M.D.

Auburndale, MA

I am a 79 year-old retired teacher of Harvard Medical School 25 years and Smith College School for Social Work 40 years. I have 4 children and 6 grandchildren. I am semi-retired from the practice of psychiatry. I wrote poetry for 40 years but more intensely since 1992 when I needed to handle feelings about surgery for cancer of the prostate. I wrote psychiatric books and articles on such subjects as delinquency and schizophrenia. I play cello in a quartette and I am a Black belt in Karate. I now have trouble walking caused by Parkinsons Disease. I am helped by a lovely and loving wife.

Searching

As a youth he journeyed thruout the countryside
Hoping he would find his bride.

She would be fair of face
Full of beauty and grace.

She would be gentle and kind
There would be a meeting of the mind

They would talk about anything
Or be close saying nothing.

The greatest gift from the heavens above
Is to be able to share one's love

Even when one finds the bride
Then one must never hide,

The search is never ending
Shared love always needs tending.

Clutter

If you notice me scowl and mutter
It is because of this infernal clutter

There is an excessive pile of papers and letters
Here is one of messages, it does not get better.

There is so much exasperation
Matched only by my frustration

I had some in a special box
Some in the dryer Others under my sox.

Whenever the doorbell rings
The postman has a pile he brings.

Now he has that cheery hello
I would like to tell him where to go.

There is only one way to reduce the pile
It is with the judicious use of the circular file

Beauty

Beauty is ubiquitous but paradoxical
Often it is quite quixotical.
Consider the case of the toad
Who in reality is a prince.
Is his a more difficult road
Than the prince who is really a toad?
Tragedy resides in their lack of success
Neither could win the favor of the princess!