'2010/06/09 Curtsy Poem by Margaret Alice

Feeling ever so much better with offi-
cial punishment, it will not make me
a better person, but it sure will im-
prove my colleagues’ mood

Just as Maria Von Trapp knelt and
kissed the floor when superior sisters
passed, I curtsy and leopard crawl as
supervisors descend on me en masse

Knowing nothing I do will ever be good
enough even when I try my best, I am
happy to offer them my efforts as they
are, at first I was frozen in angst

Trying to do it right, but the crocodile
in my head played dead and my brain
refused to produce, once I promised
myself to accept being a fool

Demoted to the level of lower devil, but
still allowed to stay in administrative
heaven - still suffered to wander the
sacred corridors of holy bureaucracy

I am so thankful for my punishment, so
glad I may do my little bit to keep these
lists rolling along and everyone singing
their virtuous song while my discordant

Croaks of ‘Absurd, how absurd’ are drowned
by angelic voices chorusing ‘Oh Holy Grail Of
Sacred Administration and Sublime Translation
The Sole Reason for Humanity’s Existence

Amen! ’