E. M. T.s, firefighters, policemen, and
search and rescue personnel battle
every day with post tramatic stress
disorder. Please let them know you ap-
preciate the work that they do...
---------------------------------------

picking up the pieces
of my shattered soul
seeing their faces in my mind
wondering what i could have done
to change things

finding those kids 
dirty--hungry--crying for their mother (where was dad)
mom in the kitchen
dead
she'd been there for some time

another chunk gone

seeing the aftermath
of that horrible wreck
six family members killed
the drunk who hit their car--not hurt
something is not right

another chunk gone

flogging elderly bodies
at the insistance of relatives
who can't let well enough alone
breaking ribs trying to bring life back
into bodies that just want to go home

another chunk gone

teens throwing their lives away
acting like adults when they're just kids
shooting dope--shooting each other
babies having babies
killing themselves for God's sake

another chunk gone

spit on--assaulted--threatened
just for doing my job
trying to help when they're sick or hurt
no thanks
no thanks

i don't think i have many chunks left to pick up

picking up the pieces
of my shattered soul
seeing their faces in my mind
wondering what i could have done
to change things

(C) Karla Dorman, 2003.