Just
A poem.
It bothers me when people say ‘I am just a stay-at-home mum’, or ‘Oh, I just work in a shop.’ What has happened to make those people feel they have no value? We cannot all be amazing life-savers like doctors and nurses. We cannot all run the country. But, we do all have a role. A very important role, and to better explain what I mean, I wrote this poem, in tribute to all the ‘I am just…’ people out there.
I am just a stay-at-home-mother. No. You are a safe-haven,
A nest-maker, a future-shaper, a woman.
A head full of dreams, a delicate, frightened person
With needs and passions.
You are not ‘just’.
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I am just an artist.
No. You are a creator of escape. A precious moment in lines.
A hundred hours of trials and failures.
You are a connection between stories and paper.
You are not ‘just’.
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I am just a postman.
No. You are the deliverer of answers.
Bringer of news to the lady awaiting results.
You are a safe, familiar face. You are known and important.
You are more than ‘just’.
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I am just a shop-assistant.
No. You are stoic and resilient.
You are the only face she has seen in a week.
You are chat and patience.
You are valuable and valued.
You are more than ‘just’.
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People are a million dreams.
They are fears, hopes, friends, providers…
They are daughters and sons; makers and leaders.
We are all important episodes in this history of ours.
More than ‘just’.
Just more.