Women's History Month: Donna Marie Merritt's "Litany of Bosses"

In high school, I worked in an office

for arrogant R. When R let me go

he said he'd call if something

changed. I told him not to

bother. Only seventeen

but already I was headstrong

enough to know I would

not work for jerks

Scooping ice cream

was fun for a summer

but N was furious when I moved on

Why did I need college, he wanted to know,

when I already had a career?

I do not remember the names

of the people who owned the preschool in Prospect

I do remember they promised us a raise

after six months

Turns out they hired new staff

every six months

We were not allowed to say good-bye to the children

I do not remember the names

of the people who owned the preschool in Prospect

but karma does

J was an older woman

never married

lived with her sister

Power Hungry

She was the principal who prided herself

on making children and new teachers cry

Kevin was a caring principal

Chip was an involved principal

Both were replaced by

the new superintendent's lackeys

I moved on

Editors were a quirky bunch, but likeable

Then came the EC team

Brilliant group. We worked together well

until

D had the HR person do her dirty work

Laid me off with no warning

Gave me a box to pack my stuff

I was one of many but that did not ease the sting

D, keep in mind that karma thing

Sue treated everyone with respect

and made me feel like a person again

but she was accompanied by

A and M

who threw two-year-old tantrums

They were so full of hot air it's a wonder

they did not float into the blue and explode

Tony was compassionate

and let me know my work was valued

but he was accompanied by

TB, who had a vision problem

In all fairness, it is hard to see

when you have your head

shoved that far up your own ass

and

K, karma will recall

your temper and pettiness

while it commemorates

Frank's acceptance and approval

And finally, the other J

who confused

speaking softly with

speaking kindly

J, I hope karma takes a mighty bite

of your rotunderous derriere

Never piss off a poet

© 2019 Donna Marie Merritt

Donna Marie Merritt is a poet and children’s author. Her sixth book of poetry is No Winter Maintenance: Pass at Your Own Risk, YBK Publishers, New York. her poems have also appeared in periodicals, school reading programs, and language arts books. Children’s anthology contributions include The Poetry of Us (National Geographic), Book of Nature Poetry (National Geographic), and One Minute Till Bedtime (Little, Brown). Donna’s seventeenth children’s book, Teensy Meensy Mice, illustrated by Ed Heck, was recently released.

Learn more at more at www.DonnaMarieBooks.com

or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donna_Marie_Merritt