Human Resources
I beg for a test to tell me I am
not going to die on the job.
They schedule me for an online assessment
to determine how many words
I can type in a minute.
I share how I am saving up
for a trip to Japan, for when it is safe
to see the world again.
They demand a detailed action plan
about who will cover my workload
in the event I am killed or maimed
in a plane, train, or boat accident.
I admit to having bad dreams
I can’t quite remember
when I wake up during small hours.
They take my fingerprints
and run me through all
the state and federal databases.
I reveal how I miss my mom
now more than ever
a year after her death.
They run a Prezi slideshow
detailing the most popular online scams
undercutting office productivity.
I ask to talk to somebody
who will listen. They assign me
a string of random letters
then tell me to quietly wait
until my number is called.
first appeared in Redactions