I have a problem in that I just can’t seem to sleep in
I seldom make it to seven before my day begins
I am a creature of habit and stick to a morning routine
It certainly isn’t the way that it always has been
When I was employed I worked shift work and it would alter my state
I worked every weekend and the hours were for certain not that great
Over the years I was on steady midnights, four to twelve and swing shifts as well
These varied year to year but this lasted for quite a spell
When I did get a day shift the days off were in the middle of the week
Days with weekends off was the ultimate goal that I chose to seek
This job started straight out of high school as a summer chore
I was only employed part time but I soon wanted more
The plan was after the summer to go to college and be on my way
Once I started getting forty hours, I wanted to stay
For the first time I was making real money and the pay was good
They asked me if I wanted to continue after the summer and I said I could
So what started out as a summer job turned out to be a career
I would retire halfway through my thirty sixth year
When I first started, there were six other men working with you
Over the years the shift would be covered by two
At one time there were over thirty employees who worked in this place
Each year you would look up at the seniority list hoping you moved up a space
You would wish your fellow worker good luck when he would retire
This in turn would move your name on the list just that much higher
Over the years the days shift with weekends was finally in my sights
Now at the end of this dark tunnel I was finally starting to see that light
Each year I was getting closer to the top of this group
That’s when the office and the hours went for a loop
They decided to cut off some jobs and buy out some of the employees
This is the first time in a while that I started to worry
Once the dust had settled and the changes were done
The employees on each shift would now be reduced to one
This meant for me that I would incur another delay
I continued on shift work to earn my pay
It took twenty nine years to get my day shift with weekends off and I was now in heaven
After a few months in that role, they changed the hours to start at seven
I told them they could change the hours in any way
No matter what you decide, I’m here to stay
I got up every morning before six for seven years and then called it a career
I still haven’t been able to break this habit it would appear
I have tried everything to shake it but I can’t seem to break free
All because of those last years of working seven to three
So far today I have walked the dog, ate breakfast and finished this poem of mine
That is what I’ve accomplished so far this morning and it’s only ten minutes past nine
The Black Sheep Poet 