About the Poem

Another poem which hinges on a long and complicated word, but in this case neither you, nor the patient, is meant to know what valetudinarianism means. Go on, look it up in the dictionary, it is a real word.

Style

Rhyming poem

Length

10 lines

Key Stage

KS2, KS3

Author

Patrick Winstanley

The Sick Note

I visited the surgery
To request a sick note.
Under diagnosis,
The good doctor wrote
'Valetudinarianism'.

'An affliction, with such a description.
Surely', I say, 'I'm due a prescription.'

The good doctor concurs,
But writes just three words
'Buy a dictionary'.