The poet has taken a very familiar character, Humpty Dumpty, and offers us an unexpected voice--that of his wife. Mrs. Dumpty stands in some ways for "forgotten" caregivers of many chronically ill patients, exemplified, for example, by those who spend 36 hours a day caring for persons with Alzheimer’s disease. She represents also the tragedy and majesty of the co-sufferer. But one has to wonder how many more falls he and she will be able to survive.

The poem also works as a critical comment on the current state of health care and the desire to move "expensive" patients out of the health care system. The play/movie, Marvin's Room deals movingly and humorously with many of the issues above. (See annotation of film in this database.)