Extinction Completed

2 Comments

Poem Commentary

In 2005, my position with Sears was eliminated (well, shipped off back east; Ohio, I think). Perhaps I was a little bitter. But honestly, it was meant as a play on words. And I still find it ironic that our last day was a Friday the 13th. The acronyms refer to my changing job title, first District Operations Administrator, then Market Operations Administrator, then Office Assistant (all in 5 years, and exactly the same job!). NTB refers to National Tire and Battery, a former Sears subsidiary.

Extinction Completed

Extinction Completed
by Connie Foy

Right from the beginning
our fate was all set
How could we have guessed?
We weren't D.O.A. yet!

The name-change to MOA
was met with relief:
Far better extinct
than a life-span too brief.

The N.T.B. joke
was Next-To-Be sold;
their MOAs went with them,
as everyone knows.

They fell shortly after.
'Twas noticed by few,
but still they were mourned
by Sears MOAs, who knew.

Our numbers depleted,
we still didn't see
extinction completed
by what was to be.

We were told that our jobs
would be safe; we were fine.
But apparently we
didn't read all the signs.

The merger would have
no effect, we were told.
And yes, we believed them.
We MOAs were sold.

As Office Assistants
at least we had jobs.
Now O.A.s are gone, too,
amid a few sobs.

Should be no surprise here.
Remember back when
we started this gig?
We were D.O.A. then!

We didn't die out,
nor our heads explode.
We found extinction
down a whole different road.

No MOAs no mo'.
Yes, now we're extinct.
But just whose bad luck
is *this* Friday Thirteenth?

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cousinsoren commented on Extinction Completed

10-24-2010

Louise Bennett, Jamaica's Poet Laureate said, "We must take serious sinthing (things) make laugh, but we should not ignore the lessons to be learnt" Wesa,you have told this sad story very well. All the literary gadgets are appropriate and fit like a comfortable pair of gloves. My rating for excellent smooth narrative style , clarity and audience appeal is a full 10. I should like to hear some views if this poem is what some critics call street poetry.

Wesa

10/24/2010

Thank you. :) I haven't heard of street poetry before. I'd be interested too!

Olan01 commented on Extinction Completed

10-24-2010

Yes, all things change, whether we like or not. A business has not heart, nor should. It soul purpose it to make a profit. The workers give it flesh and blood and feed its greed. And when it becomes too cumbersome it *metamorphosizes* and downsizes.

Wesa

10/24/2010

Or it buys buildings from another business that's struggling, then finds itself purchased with its own funds, and calls it a merger.

When power leads man towards arrogance, poetry reminds him of his limitations. When power narrows the area of man's concern, poetry reminds him of the richness and diversity of existence. When power corrupts, poetry cleanses.

John F. Kennedy (1917-1963) Thirty-fifth President of the USA

Wesa’s Poems (5)

Title Comments
Title Comments
Extinction Completed 2
Talitha Cumi 4
Pain 2
The Wall 6
A Walk in the Garden 1