Hell Jackson
why don’t you just
shut the fuck
up
You might hit the truth
good people,
all
trying to make my life more efficient
can
slow me down
to
a
stan
d
s
t
i
l
l
***
Poems, Poems, Poems,
Magnetic spots on diskettes,
ink spots on paper,
words flung at the walls
or
held within
or lost
like those great paintings
of olden days
which were stored in the dampness
of the basement,
like the missing Van Goghs
which had been
used for archery practice.
Words scattered like rice at a wedding,
like
pigeon droppings,
like smoke which drifts and dissipates
in the crisp morning air.
Poetry is like the breeze which ripples the flag.
Just for an instant
the flag defies gravity
and
we notice
***
downsized
I hear voices outside my cubicle
they are talking work
they have no work talk for me
for I am being downsized
I was big
I was busy
I was useful
now I am small
for I am being downsized
i have almost nothing to do
…….i hear people passing by my
cubicle…
i recognize their voices
and say to my self…”that’s so and
so” they are keeping them..
.they are worthwhile…..
I hear them talking
about work……
I am
jealous
Oh I was so big
I carried the company’s future
on my broad
shoulders
I walked with other giants
and spoke of 12 hour days and
reports to even bigger giants
now long
gone
there’s no
telling how long it will take me
to get enough self-confidence
to get
another job.
i may have had some once.
and self-respect.
so long ago, i
don’t remember any more
so let’s go
downsize my ass
and get me the fuck
out
of here
(get yourself out of here you fool)
How did you come to this
a downsized fool in a downsized cubicle
in a downsized world
eating downsized shit
***
I suppose all of the
drab
little cubicles in the whole world
could fit into the space
between the eyes of the factory dog
wandering the
parking lot
and lazing away it’s time
under the trailers,
eating scraps
tossed by
factory
workers.
Trapped confinements
of factory floors and concrete
painted yellow
***