Lean Attrition Poem by Margaret Alice Second

Didn’t get anything right on Friday, spent
the weekend frightened that Monday would
be the same, yet I turned on Avira Webguard
all by myself without any help

A sign that I might be able to handle my work,
even though it feels like descending into a long,
boring fall down a meaningless rabbit-hole –
terms to be double-checked

Typography of paramount importance – for a
client who throws the text away after scanning,
such a waste; playing Monopoly - awarded marks
and special acquisitions for getting things right

Though everything is meaningless; the process
should be fun, the result has no importance,
we destroy our own copies; walking in the
sun is important, not dying in a chair

Playing snakes and ladders as a brain-dead
incumbent, quietly fading away - turning
into a robot for no reason at all…

I believe in death by gluttony, diligently
digging my grave with my teeth, as things
go wrong, as tension mounts, I simply
prop another bite into my mouth

After instant soup with lots of butter and
a slice of bread, I am onto rice-cakes with
jam and cheese - the geyser broke down
today – you curse while I chew

Stretching my capacity to the fullest, Sunday
nights are meant for indulging, feeling safe
and content, if I cannot have that, I will
take foodstuffs instead, if only

My stomach would burst and send my spirit
to heaven or whatever realm gluttons are
meant to spend some moments in
lean attrition…