Do you want a flu shot?

Sure you had a reaction 30 years ago – it made you ill

Your mom never had one

You say they’re made to kill

And with a sore arm you can’t have any fun

Anyway, you think it’s a conspiracy

It’ll cause cancer

You think as you light your cigarette

And think of her

It’s immunology

Sickness by tobacco or lack of vaccine – either way you’ll regret

The nicotine grips you

As influenza whips through

You tell me your symptoms

Your story

You start to cry

You tell me how hard it is to get by

I pat your shoulder, pull up my mask

On to the next patient, next task

You look at me and say this is all you’ve got

You don’t want to see a therapist

I get the gist

All I wanted to know

Was if you wanted a flu shot