Coffee Break!!

Fresh into a work day,
fingers itching for keys to punch
the mind all set to analyze
the back just waiting to hunch

Deadlines have no fear for me
I’ll get things done in a jiffy
and then my plans go for a toss --
for want of a cup, the deadline is lost…!

(When I joined office, I was introduced to the wonderful contraption called the coffee machine and the pleasures of whiling away time, chatting, philosophising and letting out frustration, under the pretext of a coffee break... also, the irritating effort of finding a clean cup!!!)

Point of view?

... and suddenly things begin fading out
Leaving me puzzled, assailed with doubt
My world reels out of focus and sways
The rainbow colours turn to greys
A riot of muddled up shapes disfigured
Points of brightness randomly triggered
All defining lines seem frayed
O God, now I’m really afraid!
Confusion leaves me wildly wondering
What happened? When? Why? And How?
Absently, I put on my spects
Uh…all’s right with my world now!

Ouch!

I live by rules
That I’ve been taught
I live by them
Forego a lot

Alone when I won
The battles I fought
If ever I slip
I get caught!

Phew!! I'm Alive!

It’s true, you know
So, beware
Life definitely
Isn’t all fair
When you want to rest
It makes you run
And makes you work
When you want some fun
Happy-go-lazy
At peace with the world?
Watch out! Be sure
You’ll be rudely twirled
Around life’s finger
And forced to dance
Round and about
In helpless trance
To a tune you hate
And a rhythm unknown
The only solace -
You’re not alone!

Life's Good!!

I feel uneasy, my eye’s begun to twitch
My pulse beats at a fevered pitch
Riddled inside with apprehension
Throat tight in nervous tension
What can be the matter with me
When life’s been so good recently?
Ah, now I know what is wrong
Life’s been too good for far too long
(Not one sad thought, not a single tear
Now that’s the kind of life I fear!)
All good things happening, boringly quick
Come on Life, forgotten to kick?
WHAM! It comes, and prizing the pain
I smile as I feel at peace again :)

Interview Blues

There are tortures and there are tortures
And then there are interviews
Bloodless, deceptively humane,
Modern man’s conniving ruse.

The plush office interiors
Shiveringly over-cooled
The polite cordiality
But I’m not fooled!

An interview’s still an interview
A scary, unnerving ordeal
One that I have to smile and suffer
No matter how I feel.

Icy fingers hidden under the table
Lips still dry, but breathing stable
(How difficult can it possibly be? -
a friendly chat over coffee!)

Somehow the pep talk fails to bring
The usual confidence and ease
Resignedly clearing my throat, I say,
“Send in the first candidate please.”


(22nd November 2006. Reliving what I felt when I, for the first time, took two interviews on 17th November 2006, the day I also completed 7 months in the company.)