I believe both passages surgery is treated as a metaphor. It’s hard to truly understand what goes on during surgery. Therefore, it’s brilliant to get a glimpse of it through poetry. In the Knife, Dr. Selzer describes surgery from his perception while In the Theatre, it is the perception from the brother of a doctor on what he imagines the patient is feeling during surgery.
“A stillness settles in my heart and is carried to my hand” informs the readers of Dr. Selzer’s love for surgery and his “stillness” represents his confidence to perform which is carried by his hand. Despite some fears he says, it is layered with “the quietude of resolve,” his commitment as a surgeon. I believe he saw surgery as an intimate and gentle act and not a regular
