Anthony Bianco Poet Free verse

Pink Slips and Bipolar Vending Machines

My supervisor is a young, soft-spoken Asian gal...
Who averted my eyes as she handed me
my end-of-the-year "compensation award statement".
For working weekends and holidays
Being an absentee on birthdays and even funerals.
Despite the company riding the gilded air currents
like a diamond-studded albatross,
I'd be getting a seventy-three-cent-an-hour raise.

I met her eyes and said,
"a bag of M&MS in the vending machine
cost a buck twenty-five". 
She exited the room quicker than a nervous giggle.

She was once one of us. Now she's one of them.
Since the promotion, she's put on about 15 pounds.  
Her face is breaking out. She doesn't smile much anymore.
I suppose seventy-three cents an hour 
is better than her giving me the pink slip.

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Panagiota Romios March 12, 2025 at 7:07 PM Hi Anthony, . I am never sorry for being retired and being away from a group of people that thought they were God’s gift to earth.)) Specifically. I had 2 SANEmanagers in my life.. and a ton of insane ones. Both on the West On the West Coast and in the Midwest.. $.73eh?? Humiliating. Yup Had my own business for two years and that was a great experience. Because I got to choose who to be with, and I didn’t have to bow down to any clown. Oooh, strong words but true for me. Pangie

David Crandall March 5, 2025 at 9:51 AM Great poem about the world of work - glad I'm out of that...though I met a lot of great people. I like the title, and I feel sorry for your supervisor.