uncle sam wants you

although i feel like

i'm a good person,

i've never volunteered

for anything.

never helped

putting up someone's

fence,

or painted

a room that didn't involve

money.

never ladled soup, or worked

in a hospital

answering phones, or

gathering bloody bandages

for the trash.

i've never

gone down to the shelter

to sweep

or mop,

i've never joined any clubs,

or military

organizations.

never went down to the elementary

school

on election day

and helped people vote.

i'm not a volunteer.

not a peace corps worker,

or UNESCO, whatever

that is.

my therapist suggested

though

that i should go to Africa

and dig

latrines

to help me get over

a failed relationship.

i'm not sure why she would

want to punish me

like that.