At work we have a tea lady
an old-fashioned term
quaint
antiquated
it is what she calls herself.
Friendly
bosomy
motherly
she looks exactly what she is
a grandmother and tea lady.
Four hours per day
9 a.m. to 11 a.m.
2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
it splits her day into
two diminished halves
an all-day commitment
for half’s pay.
She has a friend
they will job share
two weeks on
two weeks off.
A good deal
it will work for both parties
effective immediately.
They tell the director
he is incensed
“I appoint the staff around here
not the bloody tea lady.”
Orphaned Islands (Un)poetry 