Casual Fridays

I worked for an insurance company

where we worked to convince the vulnerable

to bet against themselves

 

behind the scenes morale was wilting

smiles were pained and strained

souls and hearts were stained

 

the bigwigs met

talked about how to raise morale

a happy worker is a good worker

we were summoned and they announced

Casual Fridays

 

I sat at my desk one Friday afternoon

looked around the office

at everyone dressed in their casual clothes

even the bigwigs

rendering them more human

supposedly, and yet

I hated them

and myself

just the same

 

months passed and we were summoned again

there were to be no more Casual Fridays

somehow, they had decided

morale was now too high

 

I cleared my throat to speak

then thought the better of it