Tainted Soul

Greeted in smile and warmth
Inquired about their weekend -
Wide eyes - nodded with enthusiasm, charm
Then pardoned myself to my desk

Did the stacks of inventory
Diligently - without squabble
Bought a sandwich and Coke
For Cynthia to avoid the gossip

Then He came along -
Loud and proud - robust
On his very first day
He teased the boss and cussed

And was awarded laughs
For that risky joke
As his new hire packet
Sat lonely while he spoke

Around the water cooler
About outrageous annoyances -
In convoluted company policies -
Animated and flamboyant

One short month later
I learned in quiet repose
He was my new manager
My career - plateaued

Though qualified, the polite smile
Was "okay" and "correct" - but a bore
Weighed against the bona-fide bark
Of a waggish, tainted soul.

Reviews

[Carlos Lorenzo Estrada]

I so identify with this poem. I have known people just like that who brown nose and get ahead without doing much. Or even worse people that are so unprofessional being hired to management positions they shouldn't even have. Acting like some immature frat boy. You can't trust them either because they will put a knife in your back to make themselves look superior. I feel so bad if you have to work for someone like. Thank you for sharing this poem.