By J.J. Tindall
MY NEW JOB
My new job
is finding
my new job.
My new office
is straddling
my small crib.
“Get up early, be flexible, network in person, stay positive.”
Jesus: stay positive.
When I’m kicking ass,
you don’t have to tell me twice
“This, too, shall pass.”
When my ass is kicked
you can’t tell me
it won’t last.
“Stay positive.” Jesus H. Christ.
*****
Hobbled, humbled, humiliated.
“I’m a highly-motivated self-starter and a great team player who thrives on a challenge.”
Disposed, disposable, dispossessed.
“I believe my experience, creativity and professionalism makes me a strong candidate for the position.”
Hungry, harried, hopeworn.
“My skill set, maturity and ability to stay focused under pressure . . . ”
Busted, boned, bereaved.
“Please feel free to contact me at your convenience to further adioh fapsodbnl; oajdbnf;lakn lskeninf’lien’
l;inf’ldinf al;isdl f asl;dknf;aosine;r nfnoas
FUCK! I need some
air.
*****
I found a new path
to the gazebo,
east of the boulevard,
south of the creek.
I ditched my dreams–
yeah, I DITCHED MY DREAMS–
of brook trout for breakfast
and new shoes by the front door.
I flew the coop, fled
the cot
in the
cubicle.
I rode my bummer
to the park
to let it
go.
I flounced upon the frozen gazebo,
leaned back against a stone arch
and let it
go.
It took
some time . . . my mind like a gull strafed
the white solid sea,
the undulating fields, the denuded
groves.
It took
some time . . . but then the blind gull
skywrote a
hard-rhyming
song:
“Success: finite.
Joy: finite.
Failure: finite.
Sorrow: finite.
Coda?
Interlude.
Hard stop?!
INTERLUDE.
Winter:
Winterlude.
It’ll take
some time,
but this, too,
shall pass.”
–
J. J. Tindall is the Beachwood’s poet-in-residence. He can reached at jjtindall@yahoo.com. Chicagoetry is an exclusive Beachwood collection-in-progress.
Posted on January 12, 2009