The Office
The office is looking grey today
The air is oppressive and heavy
Locked inner doors signal who’s away
I get my presentation ready
The management are huffed and puffed
All blown up with hiring and firing
Their procedures can all get stuffed
I find them rather tiring
The meeting is doom and gloom
Buzzwords are on display
For distraction I gaze around the room
But someone tall is in my way
Patrick are you hearing me?
someone says from way off far
I know I’m not where I ought to be
I’m thinking about my car
Now you speak the person informs
I zoom to matters in hand
It’s time for me to get to my feet
But I can hardly stand
Er, I say, searching for the profound
Did they action it?
Did who carry out what? I expound
Thinking the questioner is a tit
Headcount, face-to-face, in the round
That went well someone remarks
You nearly got yourself fired
I look at a zillion grey clerks
I’m feeling somewhat mired
I stumble past the water stand
I realise I’m wobbling and weaving
A colleague stops me with a hand
She asks: Having trouble breathing?
My desk is cleared I say as a reply
I’ve had enough of clerking
The woman looks me in the eye
How will you survive without working?
That’s a challenge I admit
I’m thinking of taking up writing
Don’t you need to consider it?
No, I’m sick of pointless fighting
Patrick Mackeown, May 2006
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