Hard to describe, this pain in my side,

left lower back, when it chooses to attack,

always the same , it’s almost a game,

of pain and tears, nearly shouting in fear

that it’ll never cease, ever leave me in peace,

It’s a knife twisting, you know? Please make it go

So I take to my bed, nearly out of my head….

No moving like that, flat on your back,

TV on and stare, at the daily programmes there,

on offer for you, as you stick like glue

to your bed for a week, in your task to seek

a way of holding your head, to hear what’s said,

about House Sales, and Attic’s,  Cash, and Antiques

Switch off your mind, just stare blankly and find

a way to con the brain, not to feel pain

soon you go numb, maybe just playing dumb ,

the pain eases to bearable, not even swearable,

like toothache it lingers, as you **** with your fingers

but better that way, surely than it was yesterday

and tomorrow?,  we’ll see, maybe switch off the TV?

To crawl, the impossible crawl
to swear, the most swearable curse
to bear all the ******* they throw us
and not, leave the place in a hearse

To nod, when you just want to punch
to eat, every snack that you see
to cry, when you misplace a pencil
or meltdown when you can’t find your keys

This is our quest!
To get to the end!
Without killing a colleague,
or upsetting our friends

To still teach fractious kids
without question or pause
to stride strong into period 5
without breaking some laws

And I know that the end is in sight
so I’ll bite my lip
late July will be peaceful and calm
with a big gin to sip

And the future will not be so bad
to our heart and skills we affirm
September we’ll all start again
but for now we consign to the past
the unteachable term