Coffee
By Peter Smyth, MSW, RSW
The file’s in order
Thank God for that
Is this social work?
I’m feeling flat
Love to go for coffee
Love to have a chat
But there’s stuff to do
As a matter of fact
Got to write that report
Make a call or two
I’ll see you next month
Unless there’s more stuff to do
My computer is my master
E-mails to read
I’ll sit right here
‘Til my eyeballs bleed
Don’t have a crisis
Don’t say how you feel
It’s not a good time
My caseload’s unreal
If you can just hang on
Don’t use or cut your wrist
For God’s sake don’t AWOL
You’ll hardly be missed
Why did you run
Don’t threaten my control
Am I your worker?
I’m getting quite old
I’ll put you in care
That’s such a shame
Follow the rules, please
By the way, what’s your name?
You can’t get ahold of me?
What do you mean?
I’m the best damn social worker
You’ve ever seen
It’s just that I’m busy
You must understand
It’s all very stressful
Nothing is planned
I’m doing my best
I really do like my job
I feel so defeated
My mind is a fog
But at the end of the day
What legacy do we leave
To these unfortunate kids
Who have so much to grieve
Will they remember the paper
Or the e-mails I get
Or will it be the times
We actually met
So what are we thinking
When we’re sitting at our desk
Are we making a difference?
Are we passing the test?
Being with the kids
Is where cynicism dies
They are the disconnected
We’re important in their lives