A Poem - Could You Be Me
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Thomasm198
Posts: 3,189 Member
in Chit-Chat
I'm just going to throw up a poem here that I wrote once. The background to it is that I started it in 2008 during a bad period in my life. I was out on sick leave from work with stress. During the same time my cousin (who was also a police officer) committed suicide. I wrote it bit by bit over the years (or rather; rewrote it) because the original version was much more graphic.
The idea of the poem is to give a glimpse at the horrors that police see and the love/hate relationship that a lot of people have with us. Everything in it is based on both my own experiences and the experiences of co-workers. I know it's a bit long, sorry.
Could you be me
There is something that troubles me.
I will tell you so very plainly.
You ask me to do my job, but when I do,
You look at me with so much hate.
You call me scum, you call me filth,
And others things that I will not repeat.
You claim that I am overpaid,
That my job is just too easy.
Well I will tell you things,
Then ask you straight;
Please answer my question honestly.
Could you ever be just like me?
So listen please, to what I say.
Then think carefully; take all day.
Ponder on the things that I do see,
Then answer this question truthfully.
Could you ever be just like me?
Have you stood and watched a child die?
Choking back tears, trying not to cry,
Praying for the ambulance to arrive,
Knowing that this child,
Will soon not be alive.
Do you know the dread and fear,
To hear that a friend has been shot?
Just because he was doing his job,
Doing a job that you will not.
Have you ever sat and listened to,
The sobs and cries of a battered wife,
A beaten child,
Scarred for life.
Have you ever been close to a body,
Dead for days that’s starting to decay?
Now do you still think that I;
I don’t earn my pay.
Have you ever knocked on a door,
In the middle of the night;
Knowing that your visit will soon bring a fright?
Knocking to tell a family, filled with dread,
That their husband, father, brother, son;
That he is now dead.
Have you ever run towards danger,
To try to help others?
Trying to help them live,
Knowing well that it’s your life,
That you might have to give.
You expect me to stand like stone,
Emotionless, heartless, all alone,
When surrounded by the dying and dead.
But not a single tear will you let me shed.
You’ve called me callous, and called me mean,
But have you witnessed all that I have seen?
If my words today have caused you upset,
I am truly sorry, please accept my regret.
I just wanted to let you see,
Just what it is, to be like me.
I have seen things that would make you weep,
I do this job so that you can sleep,
Safely in your home, safe in your bed,
Away from the horrors and the dead.
Now on my words I ask you to ponder,
Please allow your mind to wander,
Think of all this and worse things
That I dare not mention.
Did I get your full attention?
Now that you have seen,
the briefest glimpse of my world,
the hurt, the suffering and the pain,
I will ask my question yet again;
I just want you to answer honestly.
Do you still think you could be just like me?
The idea of the poem is to give a glimpse at the horrors that police see and the love/hate relationship that a lot of people have with us. Everything in it is based on both my own experiences and the experiences of co-workers. I know it's a bit long, sorry.
Could you be me
There is something that troubles me.
I will tell you so very plainly.
You ask me to do my job, but when I do,
You look at me with so much hate.
You call me scum, you call me filth,
And others things that I will not repeat.
You claim that I am overpaid,
That my job is just too easy.
Well I will tell you things,
Then ask you straight;
Please answer my question honestly.
Could you ever be just like me?
So listen please, to what I say.
Then think carefully; take all day.
Ponder on the things that I do see,
Then answer this question truthfully.
Could you ever be just like me?
Have you stood and watched a child die?
Choking back tears, trying not to cry,
Praying for the ambulance to arrive,
Knowing that this child,
Will soon not be alive.
Do you know the dread and fear,
To hear that a friend has been shot?
Just because he was doing his job,
Doing a job that you will not.
Have you ever sat and listened to,
The sobs and cries of a battered wife,
A beaten child,
Scarred for life.
Have you ever been close to a body,
Dead for days that’s starting to decay?
Now do you still think that I;
I don’t earn my pay.
Have you ever knocked on a door,
In the middle of the night;
Knowing that your visit will soon bring a fright?
Knocking to tell a family, filled with dread,
That their husband, father, brother, son;
That he is now dead.
Have you ever run towards danger,
To try to help others?
Trying to help them live,
Knowing well that it’s your life,
That you might have to give.
You expect me to stand like stone,
Emotionless, heartless, all alone,
When surrounded by the dying and dead.
But not a single tear will you let me shed.
You’ve called me callous, and called me mean,
But have you witnessed all that I have seen?
If my words today have caused you upset,
I am truly sorry, please accept my regret.
I just wanted to let you see,
Just what it is, to be like me.
I have seen things that would make you weep,
I do this job so that you can sleep,
Safely in your home, safe in your bed,
Away from the horrors and the dead.
Now on my words I ask you to ponder,
Please allow your mind to wander,
Think of all this and worse things
That I dare not mention.
Did I get your full attention?
Now that you have seen,
the briefest glimpse of my world,
the hurt, the suffering and the pain,
I will ask my question yet again;
I just want you to answer honestly.
Do you still think you could be just like me?
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Replies
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Thomas, you are an amazing person who gives so selflessly! thank you for being who you are and doing what you do!! i have the utmost respect for officers everywhere because of things like these!! ******hugs****0
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WOW this filled me with so much emotion! This is one of the best poems I have ever read! Im sorry that you have ahad to go through these hard times, but please do remember you have helped so many people and continue to live on in their hearts! xxx0
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Beautiful!!!
Thank you for your service!0 -
AMEN!!! My mother has been a police officer for 25 yrs and my sister for 10. Thank you for all that you do!0
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Total respect & a (hug)0
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Wow! That was touching and thought provoking! You really should get that published, it helps give people a better view of what you guys go through.0
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I have to tell you that I have always had the utmost respect and admiration for people like you who lay their life on the line so selfishly to help fellow man and I am very grateful. People who feel otherwise are just too ignorant and don't know any better. God Bless You and thank you for all that you do. Peace.0
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Amazing! Thank you for sharing this, and even more so thank you for all that you do! *tear* :flowerforyou:0
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Amazing poem. My grandfather, uncle and brother are/were all cops. Thank you for doing what you do. :flowerforyou:0
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wow0
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WOW - That is one powerful poem. I thank you for posting it. The emotion in that is incredibly moving and brought tears to my eyes. I thank you for all you do to keep us safe. I have always respected what the police do for use. I have many friends that are police offices, and EMT’s and I pray for there safety each and every day! I have seen what it can do to a person seeing the horrors of death and I know I would never be able to handle it. Again I thank you for what you do!0
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*goosebumps* well written my friend with such raw emotion..... beautiful and thank you for sharing.0
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. doulbe post0
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*gulp*...
**tears streaming** Big Hug Thomas.......You are such an amazing person.....So beautifully put and thank you for all that you do0 -
*Fae claps wings*0
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Thank you for sharing that, Thomas. I have one really close friend that is an officer. I've heard a few stories and have nothing but respect and gratitude for everyone that has answered that call to serve so that the rest of us might be safe. Thank you!0
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that was beautiful! so touching thank you so much for all that you do! even though some may hate you remember that there are others like myself who love you guys and pray for you and we appreciate all that yall do for us!0
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I love it. Wonderful poem, Tango.
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Amazing poem. I write too so I know how it is to let all your emotions out and you did a wonderful job with this.
I had goosebumps throughout this whole poem. Again, amazing!0 -
I just want to say thank you all for you kind comments.
A friend encouraged me to post that poem to share it with others; so I have to say a very big thank you to that friend (you know who you are). :flowerforyou:0
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