Both Your Job and Mine

Your child will be with me today,

Seven and a half hours, here at school.

I will arrange my day so he gets what he needs,

And watch to see that he stays crisis free.

Because of the tumultuous life he has with you,

He lives on the edge of crisis-always,

He is often unkempt and always unprepared,

He smells of your cigarettes and dope.

I will teach him science and writing and math,

Though he is so far behind it is scary,

For it seems though you blame and criticize the school,

Your child’s attendance has been deplorable.

Yet I’ll be the one who washes his gym clothes,

Since they rarely are done at home and he is failing.

And I will also get him food when he comes without eating,

And work and pay taxes so he can have free lunches,

And you can collect your welfare check,

But let me tell you, I’m getting worn out,

Doing both your job as well as mine.