I wrote my poem Fired in response to the W3 Prompt #154, where the amazing Poet-of-the week Violet Lentz challenges us to write a difficult conversation. Here are Violet’s guidelines:
A Difficult Conversation
Two voices. Two perspectives. Tension lingers in the air.
Can they find common ground? Will the conversation spark understanding or fracture further?
You decide.
Write a poem—any form, or none at all—that captures the heart of a difficult conversation.
Fired
Based on a true story
“You’re fired.”
I sit with my hands clasped neatly in my lap,
and raise my eyes to him—
He was wearing his uniform
and his grey corporate cap.
“But I’ve only been here two weeks.”
He leant back in his chair—
(it creaks)
(he speaks)
“It’s time for you to depart.”
“Why?”
He sweeps his hands to the side in despair—
he didn’t know where to start.
A tear seeps surreptitiously to the corner of my eye,
And I shrink in my seat as he gives his reply,
“You mucked up our entire filing system, my dear!
To sort it all out will take us a year!”
(he sighs)
I lower my eyes
and fiddle nervously with my thumbs,
and I think,
‘Oh, crumbs,
So that’s what it’s for,
That’s why.’
The tear moves from my eye to slip down my face.
My boss stands and points to the door,
“You’re sacked. Get out of this place.”
I stand,
my shoulders hunch,
“Can I not stay?
I haven’t had lunch”
His face turns apoplectic bright red!
then he just says,
“No more delays,
You work here no more;
your time here is done.”
and he opens the door—
Then I’m out in the street—
And out in the sun!
I’m footloose and free— “Yippee!”
And I skip hop and run.
Lesley Scoble, March 2025
NOTES
The poem draws inspiration from a true story from my youth, when I briefly worked for Air India at their offices in the City, near Bank. My employment lasted a whole week! Apparently, I disarranged their files so thoroughly that it caused significant problems, and I was duly sacked.
THANKS
Enormous thanks to Violet for her inspiring prompt.
My thanks as always to David, The Skeptics Kaddish. To find out more about his poetry prompts please follow the link below:
LesleyScoble.com 
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