Downsizing

Work, employment, jobs,
even the best have parts wished bypassed
or dumped,
this one had been – on me.
The nexus to function seemed tenuous, remote,
a predominantly female staff
and
issuing their uniforms.

There’s no way around it : “ what size?”
Size – one of the things woman don’t want to tell men.

Ghastly – the most shapeless thing human or God ever designed
if God, it must have been at 4.59pm on the sixth day,
as plain as newsprint
as couture as an army blanket.

I once asked if they wanted to change
absolutely not, they’re great, we like them : unanimous
later
understanding descended.
The woman who made them was clever with tailoring
and smart with size –
12 equals 10
14 equals 12
16 equals 14