I’m a Lifeguard

By, Joni (written in 1990 at age 17…for an English project)

Here I am at the pool up in a ten-foot chair,

Sometimes thinking, “If they drown, I don’t care!”

Kids scream and run and break all the rules,

And act like a bunch of great big fools.

Kids do tricks off the edges like jumps, flips, and dives.

Me: I’m in charge of saving their lives.

When I blow my whistle with its loud and high pitch,

I know the swimmers are thinking, “That lifeguard is a witch!”

But they don’t understand when the water is three feet deep

To dive in and hit their head would not feel too neat.

I know I could save someone if they were to drown,

But I’m not sure I could if they weighed 300 pounds!

I work here long hours in the hot, humid air.

I wipe my forehead when my skin sticks to my hair.

I constantly think how much I’d love to get wet,

But I must watch the kids have fun while I sit and sweat.

I’ve learned CPR and practice all I can.

Unfortunately, I had to lock lips with a dumb doll named “Anne”.

Well, now I must go back to my tall, throne-like chair,

And continue to breath in that chlorine saturated air.