It was a gentle sawbones and his name was Doctor Brown. <br />His auto was the terror of a small suburban town. <br />His practice, quite amazing for so trivial a place, <br />Consisted of the victims of his homicidal pace. <br />So constant was his practice and so high his motor's gear <br />That at knocking down pedestrians he never had a peer; <br />But it must, in simple justice, be as truly written down <br />That no man could be more thoughtful than gentle Doctor Brown. <br />Whatever was the errand on which Doctor Brown was bent <br />He'd stop to patch a victim up and never charged a cent. <br />He'd always pause, whoever 'twas he happened to run down: <br />A humane and a thoughtful man was gentle Doctor Brown. <br />'How fortunate,' he would observe, 'How fortunate 'twas I <br />That knocked you galley-west and heard your wild and wailing cry. <br />There are some heartless wretches who would leave you here alone, <br />Without a sympathetic ear to catch your dying moan. <br />'Such callousness,' said Doctor Brown, 'I cannot comprehend' <br />To fathom such indifference I simply don't pretend. <br />One ought to do his duty, and I never am remiss. <br />A simple word of thanks is all I ask. Here, swallow this!' <br />Then, reaching in the tonneau, he'd unpack his little kit, <br />And perform an operation that was workmanlike and fit. <br />'You may survive,' said Doctor Brown; 'it's happened once or twice. <br />If not you've had the benefit of competent advice.' <br />Oh, if all our motormaniacs were equally humane, <br />How little bitterness there'd be, or reason to complain! <br />How different our point of view if we were ridden down <br />By lunatics as thoughtful as gentle Doctor Brown!<br /><br />Bert Leston Taylor<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/gentle-doctor-brown/
