another day at the office

we used

to stand around the water cooler,

or the Mister Coffee machine,

perpetually

brewing

on the office kitchen

counter.

we gathered in a small

group,

shooting the breeze,

talking sports

and movies,

before we put in our

three hours

of actual work for the day.

there was lunch,

and maybe

a birthday party.

there were

bathroom

breaks, personal calls to

make.

there was flirting with

the new secretary up front.

small talk

in the hall about the weather,

and where

i bought this new tie.

are we going to happy hour

this Friday?

there was sitting

at a desk

in a cubicle,

shuffling papers, and scrolling

things online

ever alert for one of five

bosses to come

walking by.

clock watching

and eating peanut butter

crackers were two

of my favorite

past times.