Laryssa Wirtiuk: #NaPoWriMo and 30/30 Day Two: “A Nonconformist Goes Corporate”

April 2, 2015 Originally posted on
http://www.laryssawirstiuk.com/napowrimo-and-3030-day-two-a-nonconformist-goes-corporate/
A Nonconformist Goes Corporate

for Carlo

You will be made to “step
up to the plate” by Jennifer,
the company’s HR manager,
who’ll invite you to a meeting
at a cafe down the street.

You will wonder if she’s hitting
on you, breaking HR policy,
but no – she’s just grooming you
or, sorry, asking you to “improve
your grooming habits and mood.”

You will sport properly combed
hair, washed more than once
per week, and you must stop
wearing that paisley silk scarf
around your waist: “too artsy.”

You will need to remove boots
and replace them with Oxfords
in the building’s lobby at the door.
“Our office is climate controlled,
and the weather isn’t on payroll.”

You will need to stop hiding,
since it’s such a small company,
but you will also not query senior
executives about daily memos
you should already understand.

You will leave your MacBook
at home, and the kombucha too,
since “We’re a Microsoft partner
and can’t afford beverage spills
anywhere near our Windows.”

You will cease original thought
like: at least from this cafe seat
you can see the weather outside,
your coffee isn’t Keurig-sized,
and Jen, in biz-casual, is divine.

Note: This poem was written in celebration of #NaPoWriMo and for Tupelo Press’ 30/30 Project. To read more about my month-long fundraising efforts, please read this post.