Harpsichord shrills, or so it seemed,
as elevator classic rock sands back the edges,
and lacuna canvasses wait patiently
for another coat of grey and brackish green.
The artist–
(an auditor of logos and surveyed happiness)
paints by numbers to drive-time radio–
Hoorah! Another complacent customer …
Tomorrow's leaders shuffle the two-step
packaged as the tango,
so exciting and innovative
that the turkeys basted hold their breath.
Up or Out,
and Up wears a uniform
of a camouflaged pale and sunken face;
while Out couldn't hack it,
or did not know the ingredients for a baste.
And the Ups shake their heads
(and greedily rub their hands),
as the harpsichord plays on repeat
via powerpoint and mini blackberry screens–
High five! It's the Western dream.
WLB – a course that must be taught,
an acronym for Work, Life, Balance:
Now that's a clever thought
(branded, categorised and bought).
Passion is followed by an embarrassed silence,
like the woman who shares news of her cramps,
or the man who needs financial assistance;
they should have swept it where it belonged.
"How are you today?"
one of the photocopies asks:
And suddenly he wonders
what he should say,
but the photocopy has already tangoed away.
The scent of panic
only draws their watch,
so he masks it quickly
with a shot of scotch.
The days stretch out
in enduring persistence
as WLB
offers new resistance.
And the whispers hint
of peeling paint,
a hesitant step
logo misplaced.
Then eyes downcast,
the artist appears
with eraser in hand
to his worst fears.
Harpsichord shrills,
or so it seemed,
as Up becomes Out,
and remembers what it was
to dream. |
Submission Name: success
