Thoughts From a Japanese Resteraunt

I once worked at a movie theater

And one week

Our bosses said, “The big boss is coming on Wednesday.”

And so

All week we cleaned

And smiled

 And tried not to panic

But we felt the foreboding

The sense of dread

Like some sick psychological rape

We were about to be invaded

Violated.

And when that day came

And the company vice president and all his prospective investors

Descended upon us in their shiny cars and fine suits

With us waiting in fear

Knowing he had the power to fire us all

We smiled

Like a hostage in public with a gun pressed to his ribs,

And watched as they watched us

Feeling them pick apart our every movement, every mistake.

And now, sitting here

Why do I feel the same way I did then?

You are beautiful and smart and interesting

And everything I am not…

But I am glad you like me, really I am

I feel lucky

But

You make me feel strange

Like I am naked

Like I am cold and exposed

Like I am inadequate.

You see every failing in my eyes

And when you met them with yours

And I see how they long

I am completely paralyzed with fear.

 

 

Reviews

[CHRIS ANDES]

I guess this is highly personal and thus achieve the great description of such experience
=]

[Pencrafter]

Your poem is clear and lucid, easy to read. I think it would serve better as a short story. But, that's just my opinion. So much of the feelings expressed here are simply the result of our own mental perceptions. We may think a person can see right through us and spot all of our flaws, but that's not the case. The defense against such a mental onslaught is to just sit there with a slight, enigmatic smile, and let them try to guess all they want to.

[Coyote Poetry]

I enjoyed this poem. The first part of the story gave life and purpose to the ending. In the eyes of someone we care for. We are never complete. No weakness in the outstanding poem.
Coyote

[kayla]

This is absolutely beautiful.

[nigrum homonculus]

ah i remember this happening to me when the regional manager used to come an inspect the gym i worked at. thank you for helping me relive some memories.

[Corset]

I remember that feeling when they come to inspect you, I had hoped not to feel that again, thank you very much, haaha, seriously a human condition we all relate to in here. Intimidation methods to keep you on your toes should not apply to love, next time she looks at you find the power in yourself it is as equally as great as hers and then let her have it! ha!

[afra]

good work ..keep it up

[eglantine]

I'd take out the "almost" in "violated almost" because rape is not almost invasive, it is. Too many commas--waaaaay too many. Line breaks signify breaks anyway, so you don't need a comma after each line. I do like the ending and how you linked the movie theater job and bosses to a new relationship and wanting to prove your worth.