In Her Office Poem by Ben Gieske

He slips into her office and
settles in a chair comfortably
while she cuddles the phone to her ear attentively.

Moments of revery - What kind of person could she be?

candy dish, dictionary, zip code book, letters ready to be mailed,
stapler, paper clips, note pad, files opened and empty spaces arranged across her desk

He steals a candy and quietly unwraps its secret,
slips it into his mouth and tastes her thoughtfulness.

At a glance to her left tacked on the board: schedules, poverty levels,
fax numbers, messages, reminders, March calendar, phone notes
with pictures of her daughter and grand children ---her extended family

On the wall behind her a lighthouse shoots its beam searching the waters of the sea
Is she a sailor or savior who finds people in need?

On the window sill, rests a potted plant with petals
of pink and blue matching her printed cotton blouse.
He searches and scans the contents under the window on the shelves:
folders, ink cartridges, manuals, books, boxes, Olé! A Spanish Dictionary
and Conversando too.
What languages does she speak?

She breaks his spell with a smile
observing him now attentively.