You Cannot: A Haiku

19/09/2020 -  Poem a Day Compilation



You cannot fire me

I have too much dignity

And I quit this job.

Unemployed

07/08/2020 - Poem a Day Compilation



I am not unemployed.

I am unemployable.

There is no real reason.

It’s just what I’m told.



I have the qualifications.

I have done the all the hours.

I’d just like to be given a chance

Like everybody else.



I’m not overly political,

I don’t bring my views to work.

I don’t like to get into arguments

Or cause any tension.



I quite like sports and theatre,

I can happily talk about both,

And I’m not pushy with my opinion

Even when heavily pressed.



I can work from home or an office,

With others or on my own,

I sound, on paper, like perfection

Until I walk in the door.



They never come out and say it,

But how I look frightens them off.

They don’t need to tell me directly,

I can tell before they open their mouth.



I won’t apologise for who I am,

I can’t change the way I appear,

And if you won’t see past the superficial

I don’t want to work for you there.



But I would like to be given an opportunity

To show that I’m capable, at least.

That how I look doesn’t affect my work,

Only your perception of me.