Short Bursts In Trenches and At Coal Face

I may not spend much time in the trenches, Or at the coal face, But that is OK. I have chosen a different path to follow, One with few signposts, Lots of swing bridges to cross, With upsetting people a real possibility, And career opportunities spiked, Should the whistle I carry in my pocket, Be noticed by the boss, But that is OK. I get the pleasure of, Relieving those in the trenches or at the coal face, Even just for a few hours, To recharge their batteries, Spend some time in the sun, See the flowers in full bloom, Watch their children in their first stage performance, Celebrate an anniversary or visit a friend, Even just read a book or watch a movie. And that is OK. If I can make suggestions, Speak to the right people, Or make submissions that will improve conditions In the trenches or at the coal face, So much the better. Seeing the gratefulness in some eyes, Or hearing words that inflate my ego, Is an extra bonus, And that is OK. I can also choose to avoid trenches that have been dug in haste, And any coalface that could be a danger to my health. I also get to learn new ways of doing things, Toss new ideas into the trenches, And bring new techniques to make working at the coalface easier. All of which is OK with me. Yes it is, OK, For me to be often out of the trenches or absent from the coalface, If I am no good at running marathons, And better at running the gauntlet, Or making guest appearances, To support the star players. Especially when I get the chance for an extra lie in, of a morning.