To you and me a pencil is trivial!

But see, in an office who owns it?

Tis the managing director’s pencil!

Now jobs are sure to be axed!

 

Is the pencil appropriately sharpened?

Why yes, I do believe it is!

Is it in its pencil case?

Well, yes, that would seem to be true

 

But, are we all on tenderhooks?

The MD is looking warlike!

His pencil sharpener is missing!

In our dull office this is turmoil!

 

As we all cower beneath our desks,

a window cleaner finds solutions

Some of us could write with Biros!

None of us had thought of that!

 

Patrick Mackeown, July 2006

Picture: Gaspar Barka