Paper and Other Excesses

The corporate guys with gray flannel suits,
And brief cases swinging on arms to boot,
Came around to the conference room,
"Computers will bring paper to its future doom"


That was back in ‘84,
When a young apprentice stood in the door,
With a knowing smile, he listened with care,
A secret plan behind his twinkling stare.


He'd been trying to find a career,
Didn't fall off a turnip truck, he made quite clear,
Really didn't like the sound of work,
But he was a man and he wouldn't shirk.


It had hit him like a thunder bolt,
Put your money in paper, don't follow the goat,
Smug and delighted he turned his learning,
He could be lazy and still be earning.


The pumpkins were ripe, the corn was tall,
His mind wandered outside to the fall,
So bored was he with all their palaver,
But polite he would be, sit still as a cadaver.


Now it's decades later, the apprentice vindicated,
More paper than ever, now he's satiated.
For far from paper getting its due,
It's stacked to all ceilings, blocks rooms with a view.


It's shredded and colored and makes computer runs
It has blue lines and folded, boxed, in recycled tons,
Our apprentice now is filthily rich,
Billing computer guys down more than a niche.


Why just today, a citrine bracelet he gave,
To a corporate guy's ex-wife he craftily craved,
They have a grand condo up high in the sky,
Where they can watch papers like rain flutter by.
Copyright © | Year Posted 2017

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Lovejoy-Burton Avatar
January 27, 2018 at 7:22 PM
ABSOLUTELY love this poem/story. "where they can watch papers like rain flutter by"....for some reason I had visions of the apprentice sitting with his mistress/woman laughing throwing green $$ bills up into the air ...
Marie Avatar
September 28, 2017 at 3:52 AM
Fantastic story, wonderfully crafted sunlite:) The details and word choice are amazing and the topic is brilliant. A most enjoyable read.
Wanter Avatar
September 29, 2017 at 9:35 AM
Thank you so much, Lynn Marie. Your support is appreciated. I would love to see your own writings again.
Warrior Avatar
September 25, 2017 at 10:41 AM
Nicely penned my friend...very descriptive Sunlite...god bless...^WW^
Wanter Avatar
September 29, 2017 at 9:33 AM
And nice of you to comment!
Pandit Avatar
September 23, 2017 at 3:02 PM
This is a lovely story--the paper is still here as you say--you area good story teller, SW!
Wanter Avatar
September 29, 2017 at 9:32 AM
Sometimes we feel buried in paper - separating paper from other trash, etc.
Andresen Avatar
September 23, 2017 at 2:20 PM
- He made big money ... but was he happy in the big apartment "up high in the sky" (?) - Great written, Sunlite :) - Best wishes for a wonderful weekend :) - hugs // Anne-Lise :)
Wanter Avatar
September 23, 2017 at 2:34 PM
I doubt it, Sunshine! Thanks for your comment.
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