not difficult to map
this administrator
of the old school
in late / out early
shy - reserved

barely a word in the morning
hands tremble
fumbling for change
when asked for his
lottery pool contribution

doesn’t pack a lunch
nor bring food up from the caf’
come to think of it
we’ve rarely seen him eat anything
though each afternoon
he comes back a changed man
after a two-hour absence
at the local hotel

no tremble then in this manager’s
voice / hands
obnoxiously witty
as he passes we underlings
his overling wisdom
then finishes what he started
in the morning
before heading home

once confessed
in a brave moment
his family tend to die
hereditarily at an early age
though at fifty plus years
contentedly boasting
of impending retirement

maybe
he does know something we don’t
maybe

© 2001

890 hits as of March 2024

07/20/2017

Author's Note: One of several bosses I worked for in the federal government. A ‘functioning’ alcoholic, but a nice guy. Sadly, he passed away after only 4 years into his retirement.

Posted on 07/20/2017
Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti