Stand-Up
Some years ago, I worked in an office environment. One of the many things I dreaded was the Monday morning “standup meetings”. One day I wrote a little bit of free verse expressing my feelings about these thinly disguised political sparring matches.
an uneasy circle of combatants
wicked blades at the ready
stand poker faced staring
cutthroat into cold eyes.
bland words, empty and pointless
but carefully chosen
mask heightened senses
they are birds of prey circling
watching for weakness
predatory sharks circling
tasting the waters for blood.
weak humor and nervous laughter
rolling eyes flash like summer lightning
betraying truth poorly concealed
light glints on flashing steel
first blood drawn as razor sharp words
tear at unprotected agendas
leaving crafty jackals to feed on hapless gazelle
or hapless jackals when there are no gazelle.