the ax

after being let go
from your office job
they walk you out
with your box of personal
belongings and perhaps
a stapler that you've stolen
and some pens, paperclips
and stamps. they
take your card key
and someone opens the
heavy metal door that
leads to the parking
lot where your car is
baking in the hot friday
sun. you feel the slap
of farewell on your back,
someone says hey, we'll
see you around, they
reach out for a lame
handshake but you have
the box in your hands
and can't so you nod
and try hard not
to say anything like fuck
you people and your ridiculous
company which produces
nothing that the world
will every keep. but
you don't, you might need
them as references at some
point down the road. so
you wave, you smile,
you have your box in
your hands and you're
squinting into the hot sun,
into the realization of that
you have no job, no income,
no place to go in the
morning. and this gives
you such joy, like striking
oil. it gushes happily from
the deepest part of your heart.