Conference Time For Me
I am attending a Native American mental health conference just down the road you see.
The conference starts at 8
and I don't want to be late.
It is free, the drive is not great
my car doesn't take much gas mate
~
Once a week I run group in the heat we swelter
at a mental health crisis shelter.
Many come in with depression
anxiety, panic in most every session
~
Other diagnoses are common
I work with the trauma problem
and grief and loss are there.
I'm getting too old for this here.
~
It is time to replace me
the agency is not cooperating you see.
I am finding my own replacement.
Stop working? No, cause then I will need a placement.
~
I enjoy the work, but it is time for a change.
I am not getting there, time to rearrange
my weeks, no more weekly commitment.
Once I was there, but it won't be treatment.
It is rewarding yes, but time for a change.
~
So I will catch up on the newest
and the latest
there may be new solutions
to old problems will be the conclusions
~
I could find solutions here.
I always think that there
is trauma and grief work everywhere.
That is what helps them elsewhere.
~
I used to think everyone
working with my people
had a trauma worker, at least one
mental health professional
~
Time to hit the road as I'm hoping
I will be there in one hour
and 20, then smell a certain flower.
Well smudge, but that is not rhyming.
About the Creator
Denise E Lindquist
I am married with 7 children, 27 grands, and 12 great-grandchildren. I am a culture consultant part-time. I write A Poem a Day in February for 8 years now. I wrote 4 - 50,000 word stories in NaNoWriMo. I write on Vocal/Medium weekly.
Enjoyed the story? Support the Creator.
Subscribe for free to receive all their stories in your feed. You could also pledge your support or give them a one-off tip, letting them know you appreciate their work.
Reader insights
Nice work
Very well written. Keep up the good work!
Top insight
Compelling and original writing
Creative use of language & vocab
Comments (2)
What you do is so amazing Denise. Loved your poem!
Good work. Totally agree with you and when you know when it is time to move on and find something different. I was a substitute teacher and a psych nurse for close to 16 years. I made the change and now a book reviewer and writer sharing books that helped me in my careers and what I enjoy sharing.