When stupidity’s gnomes run amuck among brains
and gremlins cripple machinery and communications
it is the very moment bosses suddenly become megalomaniacs,
minute details suddenly become end of world priority
the hour fills the body with acerbic venoms
heart pounds from anticipation
how the next second could possibly cause coronary failure.
Peace and reason go on vacation at a tropical time share
sending back mental postcards to torture
over how you once knew a place in your head
where life was like walking barefoot on hot coals.
Clenched teeth and white knuckle grasp,
simmering rage bubbles in the gut,
wondering when that one event too many
will push one off the ledge of control,
then the savage creature within
shall escape to unleash a beast
upon the first bystander encountered.
As a fire it eventually is extinguished,
in the cooling calm
mind slips back on that hat of logic
breathing returns to normal
muscle relaxed,
enemies imagined evaporate,
chest pains cease,
scroll of reasons to hate the world
is rolled up and hidden again.
Smile returns with occasionally twitches
from residue anger,
gazing at the lunatic you call a boss
who now donned his I’m in control
mask of serenity again,
hearing those thoughts you won’t dare to ask,
“was it good for you too?”
Author notes
Prompt: Stress
A contest entry
- Stress (prewrites welcome) by Danna Hobart.
400 points, ended February 12, 18 entries
Silver trophy winner
• next poem in this contest, remove from contest
Comments
1 - 5 of 5
-
Love the tropical time share!
This piece has a breathless quality to it in the reading that perfectly matches the scene.
Well done!
celtic queen -
Oh, jeez, if you only knew how close you came to capturing my day You definitely know what it feels like to be stressed, and you expressed it well enough in this poem so that I felt it as well. Thank you for entering.
-
oops I forgot to applaud
-
LMAO yes, I remember those moments well. I don't have a boss per se, but I have a husband that wants to maintain control every second of every waking hour of every day. It gets tiresome ... he's in bed with pneumonia right now and manages to control even from there. sigh. I relate to the twitching.
-
WOW! This tells it all here and lord knows I have been there like plenty other people. I loved this from you and good luck in the contest hon
Peace and reason go on vacation at a tropical time share
sending back mental postcards to torture
over how you once knew a place in your head
where life was like walking barefoot on hot coals.
Adding your comment:
1 - 5 of 5
