keeping out of the way
keeping out of the way all those years I worked
was a simpler matter
I just hunkered down and lowered my head
and scowled to show my concentration
it usually worked, even on bosses
a nosy lot by practice
it helped that I accomplished a lot
and usually what they said they wanted
with little thought for what they actually did
it was a strange game I played those years
me against them, with only survival at stake
it never occurred to me to cooperate
or that such a thing was possible
though I later learned to fake it
I thought of myself as the Resistance
surviving and defying an occupation
and now looking back I wonder
was I on to something?
or just making life more difficult for myself?
already a foreigner in an alien land
these days it's easier in ways
I'm a resident here where no one is native
and the caregivers are all on my side
all I need do is keep my feet and my baggage
out of the way while they clean
Wyatt Underwood © 2024
Connections: