[Bender]

My shift starts at midnight
Kissed my wife goodnight and tucked the kids in tight
I reflect on my drive in and think about what I did right
And what I would have changed and how it just didn’t sit right
But it’s life….
I got a thirty minute commute, I leave late but don’t panic
Because at this time of day there is little to no traffic
I pull in the parking lot see a puddle and swerve at it
…it splashes
Take one last drag off my cigarette and throw it right at it
I put my lunch away take a shit and wipe my ass
Grab my headset and pen but I forgot my pass
I tap on the glass they let me in when I flash my badge
I take a seat by myself in the back
Plug in and set up my radio and phone with three cords
Wipe all the germs from the last guy off my key boards
If I seem short when I answer, don’t take alot of offense
I just helped someone do 600 compressions on their mom’s chest
And she still ended up dead
It’s not an emergency that your cats in the tree
Or that you mashed up your knee
Can you hold please……I need a car to back Unit 53
My friend called me earlier but I was sleepin'
Wanted to hang out but I am at work this whole weekend
And I’m freaking out and sick of talking to these men
And ladies who have been out all night drinking again
Finally a break I’m ready to dig in my lunch box
But at 0430 in the morning my stomachs in knots
I don’t want to eat I just want to go back to sleep but I’m not
So I just try to finish the shift without pissing off any more cops
I don’t want to get fired
But I’m so fucking tired
And I heard about this guy one time that slept through a structural fire
I see the sun coming up through the buildings one window
Think about the drive home and colliding with my pillow
And how I need to stay awake in the car or my wife will be a widow
It’s time for shift change and thought my shift was boring
And how I could have fell asleep if I didn’t start snoring
Instead my phone rings and it’s a number I recognize
It’s my mom’s house! No it’s not that’s a five
…I need to open my eyes
I am packing up my stuff and trying to get out of sight
My relief says good morning and I say “yeah right”
“more like good night,
…I’m going to bed my next shift starts at midnight”