the idiot boss the toxic gas cloud
and I’ve heard him proclaim
in coded language those life-draining policies
we all sensed were coming
then came the sky above our workplace
proof of a world outside the prison
and yet that stickiness one feels
inside the narrow workplace
that claustrophobic fear-zapping of soul
now you too staffers of the President
know how it feels so welcome to our world
most of us can tell you it never gets better
the idiot boss grows only bolder
the yes-men and yes-women support him
at least in public and he will push it to extremes
a rubber band stretched to its limit
but I’m here to say it will not break
idiots like these know just how far to go
they take you there oh gosh they take everyone there
like that friend who pushed you to do things
that made you uncomfortable
a suit in the closet meaningless dress shoes
polished the crimson pantsuit on the bed
droll bloodless cold an erasure painting
what do you want? sympathy? empathy for the wall-
makers? the go-getters, the workaholics?
the movers and shakers? is he an idiot?
is he? I’ve seen him coming down the hallway
the idiot boss the toxic gas cloud
and I’ve heard him proclaim
© Alejandro Escudé
Alejandro Escudé’s first book of poems, My Earthbound Eye, was published in September 2013. He holds a master’s degree in creative writing from UC Davis and teaches English. Originally from Argentina, Alejandro lives in Los Angeles with his wife and two children.
