deepundergroundpoetry.com
My Wage’s Worth
Reduced
To paper clips
And stapling activities
Un-stapling, reprinting
Updating just one page
Not wasting
Lining up the office supplies
Keeping it simple
Like a factory production
It’s all my vacant stare can handle
Cutting lengths of bluish ribbon
No need to count them
Punching holes to tie them through
Then curling with scissors
Next I keep the scissors
Comfortably in my hand
Cutting tiny squares of double sided
Tape to stick to ornate bags
The final paper cover adheres
And after 30 more or so
My production is almost ending
And my anxiety grows
What will I do next, it seems
I’m not as capable as before
But alas I find another need
For my automatic stapler
These trifold brochures must have
The specialist’s business cards attached
Before I put them in the bags
My anxiety sighs a slower breath
And I look away from the real to-do list
Published 23rd Feb 2018
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likes 14
reading list entries 2
comments 23
reads 1416
Commenting Preference:
The author encourages honest critique.
23rd Feb 2018 9:42pm
Wow! This is excellent, Gem. It expresses anxiety so well, plus monotony too.
The ONLY quibble I have are the caps. I know it's a traditional style; however, it does interrupt the flow somewhat. I would suggest only capping the beginning of sentences.
Again, freakin excellent write.
The ONLY quibble I have are the caps. I know it's a traditional style; however, it does interrupt the flow somewhat. I would suggest only capping the beginning of sentences.
Again, freakin excellent write.
24th Feb 2018 1:27am
I do agree, traditionally I would prefer not to use caps at the beginning of every line. However... I wrote both of these work-related poems while wasting time at work, finding quiet corners to dwell in, on my phone... which = automatic caps, and a pain in the arse to uncapitalize them all.
Nonetheless, an excellent suggestion Ahavati. Thank you poetess!
And thank you further for getting the motivations behind the pen =)
Nonetheless, an excellent suggestion Ahavati. Thank you poetess!
And thank you further for getting the motivations behind the pen =)
23rd Feb 2018 9:44pm
Oh monotony, how unnerving you can be, a little deeper will discover Zen philosophy. Routine begets boredom begets patience.
Really nice write.
Really nice write.
24th Feb 2018 1:35am
An excellent observation Daibach! Most agreeable with the sentiment. Thank you for sharing your thoughts =)
24th Feb 2018 00:54am
office stationery is only there for one reason - to steal - the bible says thou shalt not steal, but no where does it say thou shalt not swap so I would take a case of post it notes and leave three bits of paper, I would take a laptop and leave a speak and spell, I'd take 6 staplers and leave six paperclips - oh the drudgery of worklife existence - let me take you away from all that :-)))))))
I love you lots - sending 1000 warm hugs <3 <3 - :-))))))
I love you lots - sending 1000 warm hugs <3 <3 - :-))))))
Thine holy babble doth speaketh the truest Truth! I bow to thee, oh righteous Sheepeth 🐑
24th Feb 2018 2:49am
Reminds me of a summer job during College. Stuffing unfastening and placing plastic cutlery into boxes. Great poem
Oh what we do for a paycheck, monotony be damned =) Thank you greatly for sharing your thoughts JusTim!
25th Feb 2018 3:22pm
Aww, yes, the real to-do list, which lies
within my mind, continuously clamoring
for attention, as I sit typing this, thus
giving preference to my desired use of time.
Loved this
within my mind, continuously clamoring
for attention, as I sit typing this, thus
giving preference to my desired use of time.
Loved this
27th Feb 2018 00:22am
thank you Teri! We do spend our time as we see fit after all =) Luckily I can work at my own pace most days, and spend snippets of time indulging my preferences as well!
Anonymous
25th Feb 2018 10:08pm
There's a certain comfort to be found in monotonous activity at times. When the nerves are frayed and the need to retreat weighs heavy but responsibility comes calling. Great expression of anxiety, lovely nightbird. :-)
...Willow
...Willow
27th Feb 2018 00:26am
I am fortunate to have flexibility in my job position, with no direct mgmt hovering over my shoulder, for those times when I just need to turn on auto-pilot to make it through the day. At least I can rely on my handy stapler =) (lol)
You really got the message here, thank you Willow!
You really got the message here, thank you Willow!
27th Feb 2018 6:17pm
I enjoy how straight forward and paced your write is. I tend to write in the same fashion. You create an effective portrait of the monotony of office work. Been there.
27th Feb 2018 6:45pm
Thank you so much for your remarks! You really got this, the pace of the poetry does add to that feeling of monotony.
27th Feb 2018 10:38pm
Waiting for Godot...what a brilliant piece of existential poetry...the ennui leaps from each line...the humdrum feeling of each slow passing minute in this postmodern world pours from each word...I can see Emile Cioran loving this ink, as I do NB.
Cheers...Harry
Cheers...Harry
28th Feb 2018 5:18pm
What a fantastic comment, I’m really blown away! Much respect for those who can teach me a thing or two, or three... I again enjoyed learning of your references here and expanding my mind =) Seems we have similar taste! Thank you for sharing your thoughts Harry, and for the RL add!
28th Feb 2018 9:20pm
7th Mar 2018 3:12pm
This paints an excellent image of the boring yet stressful and overwhelming work enviornment.
8th Mar 2018 00:46am
18th Mar 2018 11:23pm
the real to-do-list usually never get's done we are too easily distracted by an over stimulated world - I find monotony to be a preferable distraction to most of the ones that are out there - concentration on monotonous tasks suit s me well - my to-do-list just needs editing or cropped - simplified :-)
excellent and inspiring write as always - you are on my to so list <3 <3
excellent and inspiring write as always - you are on my to so list <3 <3
13th Sep 2018 10:30pm
Repitition is the death of hope
Within if though is some comfort
We all do stuff for green
Great piece of ink
Like
Within if though is some comfort
We all do stuff for green
Great piece of ink
Like
13th Sep 2018 10:59pm
Why thank you PoetSpeak!
I seek to find a balance in the comfort of such mechanics, being a robot has its perks afterall.
I seek to find a balance in the comfort of such mechanics, being a robot has its perks afterall.
4th Oct 2023 00:25am
I only found this piece today and I am glad I did. As you get older you start to notice things about working a job that you missed while younger. One of the things that cause us to grow angry as we get older is knowing that so much of our life is spent in an office doing mundane tasks that keep us from our dreams we had during our youth. Great read.
