This is a little poem that’s been sitting on the back burner for quite a while now – I thought it about time to get it finished and put it out there.  Dedicated to all of us starting out who might think it’s all too easy . . . try not to be over confident, be humble always.

You’re young and fresh, so bright and keen,
Your eagerness sets the pace,
And as the newbie, with a sense of good,
To you it’s just a race.

Every question in class your hand is up,
To be first to answer and be greedy,
You know the answer, it’s right there in your head,
“Come on!” you say, “It’s easy”.

But every time, you end up wrong,
So you utter a begging decree,
“Just one more chance please” you say with a smile,
“I’ll get it next time, you’ll see!”

The rest of the class they’ve clocked you alright,
How long do you think you can last?
But to you, you’re ingenious, utterly oblivious,
Never to be outclassed.

And thus, through Uni your journey continues,
Over and over you repeat your phrase,
“Just one more chance please” the examiners hear,
As their expressions begin to glaze.

Through every placement and every exam,
The mentors you fail to appease,
Yet you beg your way through to stay on the course with,
“Just one more chance please”.

Somehow you manage to scrape your way through,
Pulling the wool over everyone’s eyes,
“Just one more chance please” now your trademark phrase,
And the last few years all lies.

But now you’re here, you’re out on the road,
Epaulettes all sparkly and bright,
First day of your career, as a new Paramedic,
Not a soul to hold your hand tight.

And lo and behold the first job you receive,
Is a 50-year-old, “Cardiac Arrest”,
You race to the job and arrive on scene first,
And desperately do your best.

You fumble with basics, and stammer your commands,
And forget all you thought you knew,
To make matters worse, the family scream,
And tear your soul in two.

Never before have you wished so much,
For something to end so soon,
Your voice starts to falter, your blinkers close in,
And you feel on the dark side of the moon.

So, others around you take over your role,
And become the lead medics on scene,
You’re ordered aside, given simple roles,
To help you blend back in the team.

But sadly, the outcome is all too familiar,
The patient is ‘called’ where they fell,
The wailing continues and your tears start to fall,
This is all starting to feel like hell.

As you vacantly stare at the patient’s side,
You hear yourself utter your phrase,
“Just one more chance, please” this time barely a whisper,
Said through a tear-stained haze.

And the deafening silence that strangles your mind,
You repeat it again in fear,
But all you get is a hand on your shoulder,
As a medic whispers in your ear.

Their voice is strong, both gentle and cruel,
And the words seal the final vow,
“I’m sorry my friend, you’re a Paramedic . . . there’s only one chance now”.

Binder