NO GOOD DEED GOES UNPUNISHED

Working hard and  being unappreciated. 

This is my life as a special ed teacher

I do the job out of love

Whenever I tell someone what I do

I hear the same thing

“Oh my goodness, you must have a lot of patience”

“You must be a special person”

“Thank GOD for people like you”

Why I work with the broken ones?

Why do I choose this job?

It is because I was once a broken child

That no one saw. But I see them ALL

I see them

I know what it is like to be

overlooked

unloved

unwanted

Some of my students are like this

So I know

What to do and

What to say

I help mend their small

beating broken hearts

BUT DAMN

I am TIRED.

I am ANGRY.

I keep fighting for them but

The ones at the top fight back

And I have to lie to them.

So all of my love goes there

I only have love at work.

My classroom

The Island of the MISFIT TOYS

(Watch the old school Rudolph the Reindeer show)

But this does not pay my bills

I am tired of fighting and advocating

and being ignored by the suits at the top

Once a month I am paid

By the 15th I am out of funds.

I live humbly

I sacrifice my desires

To pay the rent and pay for

Someone else’s home

I stay home Nowhere to go

When you are broken

AND

Broke

So I am full of a rage that is ignored

No one cares

They only pretend to

I am full of anger and

SICK OF

Being broke

No one listens to me or considers my struggles

Always working and not getting ahead.  

Each month is worse

I just want it all to end

I want to disappear,

Can i disappear please

God come get me

I have given everything i have and more

I have shared and  been generous with so many

 And people take and take

I am stupid because i kept giving until

I had nothing left

I am 

Hungry

Tired

Discouraged

Empty

I need a hero

I have been a hero many times

I need a hero

This cloud is very dark

Good night 

I no longer care

I give up

Where are all the heroes?

Can I keep hoping?

Should I?