• Skip to main content
  • Skip to main content
Choose which site to search.
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Logo University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Medicine and Meaning
  • UAMS Health
  • Jobs
  • Giving
  • About Us
    • Submission Guidelines
  • Issues
  • Fiction
  • Non-fiction
  • Poetry
  • Conversations
  • Images
  • 55-Word Stories
  • History of Medicine
  1. University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
  2. Medicine and Meaning
  3. Shaking the Ivory

Shaking the Ivory

By Alex Marshall

We put a man in the highest place.
Why’d we do it? ‘cause of greed or race?

He’s upended schools and universities.
The regime’s tackling medicine and academe.

But is it the power, prestige, or money that goes?
Which has us hand-wringing, crying terrible woes?

Is it the list of words or the lack of expertise
That are shifting, shaking the tower of ivory?

Where are the leaders? They stepping up?
What do you hear? Are we giving up?

What will we do to win this war-battle?
I don’t know; time will only tell-tattle.


Alex Marshall, Ph.D., is an Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Health Behavior & Health Education in the College of Public Health at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences. She earned her doctorate in Health Behavior at Indiana University with minors in adolescent development and human sexuality. To date, her research agenda has focused on understanding sexuality and sexual health issues among adolescents and young adults and addressing health/ healthcare issues among marginalized and underserved populations. 

Posted on October 21, 2025

Filed Under: 12 – Poetry

University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences LogoUniversity of Arkansas for Medical SciencesUniversity of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
Mailing Address: 4301 West Markham Street, Little Rock, AR 72205
Phone: (501) 686-7000
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Disclaimer
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Statement
  • Legal Notices

© 2026 University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences