boxes

you get a job
folding
boxes. to prove
your worth
you fold three
hundred and seventy
nine boxes
in one day.
your hands bleed,
your shoulders
sag, but your
boss is pleased
with your work.
he slaps you
on the back and
tells you what
a fine job
you've done.
by the end
of two weeks
you have slowed
down, your body
aches, your hands
have calloused
where once they
bled. you have
never hit that
number again.
your boss calls you
in to the office
and tells you
that you need to
improve your output,
you need
to do more, if
you expect to keep
your job.
you quit and go
to another box
making company.
on the first day
you fold three
boxes. they aren't
pleased, but you
tell them you can
do better.