A poem about the most universal experience in corporate life.
When I was younger, I used to love writing poetry. I was never one for poetry that rhymed, although it tends to do that naturally from time to time. (Hahaha.)
But let's be real - back when I wrote poetry, I was in my teenage angst days where everything sounded too dark and gloomy for my own good. I grew out of that phase... mostly.
So what does that have to do with this post? I planned to finish a post about audience analysis this week, but I didn't have the time. However, my mind kept coming back to a few verses of this poem.
Where did the poem come from? Good question. A couple of weeks ago, I made a joke on LinkedIn about writing a sweet-and-sassy poetry book about corporate life and all its nuances.
Guess it wasn't a joke after all. Here's my first attempt back into poetry - I'm sure you can resonate with it.
"You're On Mute"
The corporate shift from watercoolers to screens
Couldn't prepare us for this one little thing
This damned little mute button
Quietly lingering in the corner
Ever listening
But never on when you need it
Despite the simplicity
A simple microphone icon
That's only seen when it's silent
Lips moving; message not received
Until those dreaded words shatter the reality
"You're on mute"
What.
Again?!
Goddammit.
Laughter fills the air to hide the shame
Lips moving; message simpler this time
Don't have the strength to say those same words again
All because of that damned little button
That royal pain in the ass
Reminding me that life's too short
And my fuse is getting shorter
Because I chose the corporate life
This empty, hollow reality...
It doesn't matter the day, time, or subject
It's the one thing we all have in common
That damned little button
It's always reminding us of that one, universal truth:
"You're on mute."
