Social Work, Socks, and Self-Care

by Jane Seskin, LCSW

Today I bought socks with

sunflowers growing up from

the toes...and had a flashback.

I started wearing patterned socks

when I was a hospital social worker

counseling survivors of violent

crimes.

Looking down at my feet,

crossing my legs, I could feel

a small smile dress my lips as I glanced

at birds, books, stars, stripes, polka

dots, Santa Claus for Xmas and hearts

for Valentine’s Day.

The socks didn’t persuade  

the traumas of domestic violence and

sexual assault to flee my office.

But for the time it took to blink,

the sight of the socks sustained me  

while the healing talk continued.

Jane Seskin, LCSW (www.olderwisershorter.com), is a social worker and author. Her most recent collection of poems is Older Wiser Shorter: An Emotional Road Trip to Membership in the Senior Class.