- still currently going on about "help" systems because I've had to deal with them again in the last few months... after many years having given up on them... Geneviève is a young social worker who isn't my intervenante (counsellor, I think in English), and she really wants to help, but... 

Dear Geneviève,

You're a sweet person

And no doubt you have

Very kind-hearted

Intentions and hopes.

But dear one, don't

Take this the wrong

Way, I'm not new

To this whole process.

I've been bounced around

This system longer than you've

Been alive, and unfortunately,

I've acquired a baggage

When it comes to these

Services you work for.

My experiences have not

All been on the side of good,

So you'll have to forgive me

If I'm not as enthusiastic

As you are when it comes

To finding the correct help.

'Cause quite frankly,

I don't believe it exists.

Not for my situation, anyway.

I've been told many times

In most unkind fashions

That you don't even know

Are possible in your field.

It's an assumption, sure,

But you have to understand

The perspective I'm coming 

From to be saying this:  It's

Let me down badly very often.

So, my trust that anything

Has changed in this system

Since I long ago left it

Isn't all too strong right now.

And not to be mean,

There's also your approach

That has been questionable

In the last few weeks.

On a few occasions,

I felt like I wasn't part

Of your intervention at all.

Like you had a goal to achieve.

And whether the discussion

Was to be of benefit to me or not,

You insisted we would have it.

Like I hadn't said I don't need it.

Then there was your colleague

Who was obviously surprised

I wasn't preoccupied with the topic

Of what felt like it was her homework.

So she instead barged in asking

Personal questions as to what

Else could be preoccupying me then,

As if this was anything appropriate.

I mean, I'd never met this girl

Before that moment, and the both

Of you decided we'd talk

Whether I wanted to or not.

It was a mind-boggingly weird

Thing to be experiencing.

Made me wonder where your heads

Were at to not see this isn't done.

Especially for that moment's context:

By the door of the food bank centre

Waiting to go in in a few minutes.

It just didn't make any sense to me.

Sure, you are intervenantes,

But for goodness sake,

The fact alone isn't enough to assume

Everyone wants to talk to you.

Talking personal stuff with strangers 

Is really not my thing.  I'm surprised

My conditions you know about didn't 

Clue you in on this obvious symptom.

It also surprised me that you two were

Surprised covid wasn't a preoccupation

For me in my life, at least not completely.

There are other more pressing things, like:

I'm going to the food bank?  I'd say

That is a pretty good clue.  Sometimes I get

The feeling 'helpers' are so disconnected

To the reality their clients are living.

And that day, you made me feel

So uncomfortable, so very awkward,

'Cause the two of you didn't listen

At all, and I felt forced to give answers,

When really, I'd just told you

I'm fine, I have no questions about it.

Your insistance really threw me off,

And I really don't like being rude.

The whole deal felt like it was for you.

It had nothing to do with helping me.

To have that feeling be felt again

Just plays on my doubts this is wise;

I mean, to get back into this system.

I'm having a hard time shaking off

The feeling that it's a regressive step

For me to even be contemplating.

So, I'm sorry if my recalcitrance

Bursts your bubble a little;

Just remember that your clients

Have experiences that come with them,

And some of them will never fit with

All of the criteria, or what you studied.

Real life isn't so cut and dry, and

Helping starts with understanding.

Never assume that the standards

I'm currently incapable of meeting

Are just a question of guidance

And time to get myself up there.

The idea that I don't know

My own situation, my own capabilities,

It's short-sighted and condescending.

I know that's not what you mean.

Anyhow, I hope you'll understand

I think you're a great person, it's clear

You want to make a difference.

Just, don't forget your client when you try.