Napowrimo poem Day 25
Prompt: First things First
Even after all this time
when I hear those words
she comes to mind
her thin soft grey perm
her pale blue watery eyes
her cut glass clipped accent
Miss Benelle the Headmistress
who insisted that each staff member
collect their pay cheque
from her personally in her office
just another scoop of humiliation
to be thrown at you
while she made you stand waiting
fumbling slowly in her desk drawer
pretending to have mislaid it
uttering her usual jaundiced greeting
coated in sarcasm
' Oh here it is, of course
first things first"
Love "cut glass clipped accent." Wonderful description of Miss Benelle. Her type always managed to unnerve me and throw me off balance! But no more! Well done!
ReplyDeleteOh, the rituals of jobs we've moved beyond. Loved the line "just another scoop" as it conjured up a serving of something. I can see her now.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, I love your goodbye to RWP banner! While I applaud the artistry of the banner, I'm very sad they're going.
ReplyDeleteNow to your poem. Such a fine description - I believe your Miss Benelle has a twin in temperment in California. My school principal had a bag full of humbling maneuvers she pulled on us. You brought back that feeling of what it felt like to be a recipient.
This is a crystal clear portrait - I absolutely hate her!
ReplyDeleteGreat work.
If this posts twice, sorry
ReplyDeleteoh, yes. her.
mine was named Margaret, and she was patrician as something out of Gone With the Wind--and almost as old.
Did you ever wonder at just how much preparation went into that offhand pettiness? So much planning for those little triumphs.
Rall,
ReplyDeleteThis is all too familiar a feeling I have experienced. Great poem. Now as far as the header pic ... Sad but very clever.
Pamela
I like how you turn this on its head and put "first things first" as the last line. You've perfectly set the scene. She reminds me of some nuns I had in grammar school
ReplyDeletePlenty of people have that knack, sad really! Love your party outfit and our mode of transport. It won't turn into a pumpkin, will it?
ReplyDeleteWell, another absolute control freak..years of practice makes perfect..and who loves her now? Thanks for the portrait...
ReplyDeletefunny how some people like the powerful snap of a whip ...never grows old... can't help wondering if she's still the same after all this time conduit connect
ReplyDeleteOh, so perfectly captured!
ReplyDeleteLove your collage...I can't wait to not feel I have to produce a poem every day, but am SO sad that RWP, which I only found a few months ago, will be leaving us...
Thanks everyone for your comments. Unfortunately situations like this and (far worse) are all too common in the work place.
ReplyDeleteIt has occured to me how poetry is a much more effective way of highlighting a problem like this rather than prose.
A short novel in verse is definitely on my 'to do' list and I thank RWP because it has given me the regular practice experience to do it.
I am fortunate in being able to produce a poem very quickly.The time spent is in reading the poems and making comments.I will miss reading the daily poems.Like having ice cream for breakfast every day. I have neglected Doris the domestic chores goddess this month
and it will probably take me the rest of the year to catch up but it was worth it for me.
Ooh, I can absolutely picture the supercilious Miss Benelle. Great word portrait!
ReplyDeleteindeed well captured Rall....thanks for this
ReplyDeleterallentanda
ReplyDeletehave enjoyed your wit
and words
can imagine your cut class interviews
salut