“I hate my job I hate my job
I hate my job I hate my job…”
the words repeat
endlessly
inside his head,
trapped
day after day
the possibility
of escape dwindles
how did he end up here?
“I hate my job I hate my job…”
the clock ticks
closer and closer
to the screaming
of the alarm clock
“I hate my job I hate my job…”
it was only for money – survival – rent
make enough cash…move on…
it didn’t happen like that
(it never does)
“I hate my job I hate my job…”
3 years…how many more?
1 more, 2 more, 20 MORE???
when will this endless
torture to my soul cease?
“I despise my job I despise my job…
my job despises me my job despises me”
did he wake up?
was he already awake?
if you don’t sleep
how can you wake?
“I kill my job I kill my job…
my job kills me my job kills me…”
he’ll be there next week
definitely until xmas
then?
until retirement? retirement?
I’ll never make it!
“I am my job I am my job
I hate myself I hate myself”
he drinks his coffee,
showers, brushes teeth,
walks to car,
key in ignition,
drives to…that place.
“I hate my job I hate my job…”
he parks the car
in front of the
trailer disguised
as an office,
the place…he works
and he sits
in the car
and he sits
and he laughs
and he laughs
hysterical laughter
I HATE MY JOB! I HATE MY JOB!
I HATE MY JOB! I HATE MY JOB!
he laughs and laughs and laughs and laughs
…he hears banging on the car windows…
…he turns the radio up louder…
I HATE MY FUCKING JOB!!
I HATE MY FUCKING JOB!!
the banging on the windows
continues…the sound of a siren…
he laughs and laughs and laughs
as he’s loaded into the ambulance
he thinks to himself:
I didn’t realize it was this easy
to get time off work
Notes
A poem from 2011. The job referred to was my 3-years experience as a Life Skills Worker. It was a wonderful experience for 2 years, but the 3rd year took its toll…the stress…the threats… A few months off and a change of career helped! It ain’t easy being a Life Skills Worker! Much respect to those that do the job well.
Written: August, 2011