Scene I
Barista:
Good morning, Adieu!
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
Hello, how are you?
Barista:
I’m fine sir and I
Am here smiling so buy
At this cash register please
If I may insist
You can order from me
Tell me what’s your wish
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
I wish to dream a small dream
And share all my scars
Of hope for this world
For those close and far.
I hope for that day,
when with truth we shall find,
the clear blue sun lit skies
that grey storm clouds hide.
Barista:
Are you really ok?
Please tell me what you want
There’s people in line
We sell what’s been bought
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
Well what should I buy?
Chocolate sugar on ice?
To rev me up quick.
Please tell me your price
Barista:
That’s 7.55
The prices went up
Our wages still rise
But just not fast enough
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
Interesting thought
Of the price for our time
In this life of toil and striving
And clawing to climb
I’ve got to sit at my cubicle
So this here will do
To sooth my tired soul
And give me some fuel
I guess sugar my fancy
Mocha late non fat
To send me off shining
To do this and do that
Barista:
Sure well I shouldn’t have said that
They’re watching me here
There’s cameras and mics
And snitches and ears
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
Sorry about that
I guess I don’t quite see
Barista:
To live in my shoes?
It’s just the way that things be
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
Yeah I’ll take that coffee too
Barista:
Why don’t you just leave
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
But I’m a zombie from crashing
From last night’s carb fueled binge
With alcohol deadening
What might for real lurk within
Barista:
Well that’s why we’re here
This sugared coffee will do
It’ll make you a bit jittery
But will wake you up new
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
Thanks now I’m off
See you tomorrow
Barista:
No tip for the day?
I’m living in sorrow
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
Yeah um eye contact is deadly
I’ve shared my whole soul
My dreams and aspirations
Have really turned cold
Barista:
Well the hospitality industry
Is always this way.
No biggie, Enjoy!
And have a nice day.
Scene II
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
Well I’m off to work
The boss’s a jerk
I’ve got my drink.
Now to wake and think
Car in front
Car in back
I’m here going
Exhaust spewing
Yes, driving while trapped
Stay in between
The dotted white lines
Slow when their red
brake light do shine
I’ve got this down pat
I’ve practiced for years
But I’m alone in my car
And I better not feel
So I turn on the radio
Let’s see what’s on the news
War Politics Fear
That gives me the blues
How about hip hop that’s nice.
I’ve been hooked since a youth.
Black men on stage signed up for a wage.
Bang bang bitch money guns shoot
Let’s bob our heads to the traffic
And hear what’s on today
105.9
I rhyme and hear them say:’
Corporate Rap Radio 105.9:
I’ve got women and hoes
And sexual violence
And clothes on display
Drugged up here now try this
I’ve got money and luxury
No real language but savagery
Violence is ecstasy
And I fuck bitches a plenty
What what Hollywood
Famous rappers galore
They are so very good
With catchy beats we adore
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
A nice little message
For the urban audience
But to that I get bored
So now what’s my wish
So I’ll turn the dial, see.
Now 96.3
Corporate Reggaeton 96.3:
Reggaeton fast to techno
Poder latino is dead
We’ve got sexualized pornographic tunes
To saturate your head
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
Hmm I don’t know all the words
The beat’s fast and European
That old island beat
Is somehow here missing
So don’t get people going
Music vibrations have power.
The melody and the rhythm
Can shake down any tower.
So a sanitized beat
Some junk lyrics recycled
I think its pretty sweet
I listen then like it.
What’s next on the radio?
Straight rock and roll
The same hits from the seventies
Now I’m getting old.
Ok, time to merge lanes.
Right blinker and check
My rear view mirror, the past
Is just a memory’s speck
The future to the right
The blind spot well who knows?
The empire is blind.
The emperor has no clothes.
I made it, the off ramp
Oh shit am I late to work.
Like I said my job sucks
And my boss is a jerk.
Minutes to spare
Now quit this diatribe
Quick, quick comb my hair
Hear one last rock song line.
Park the car. Tuck my shirt in
Yeah, I know I’m a slob.
But I’ve got my sugary coffee
Of which I am so very fond.
Scene III
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
Good morning how are you?
Coworker:
I’m fine how are you?
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
Very well thank you!
Coworker:
Thank you!
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
No, thank you.
(So how many times did we thank
Each other for morning smiles
That guy gets on my nerves.
I’ve got files to compile)
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
Quick log on to my screen
I’ve got to be at it all day.
But first check the stories on Facebook
Read what my friends have to say.
There is birthdays and gossip
And a wedding pic pose
Vacations so exotic
Here I am I suppose.
I’m sure we all live like this
With so many friends
Smiles for cameras
And with money to spend
With all the time in the world
To visit future destinations
Flying about
To exotic locations
Quick here comes the boss
I better behave.
Look busy Relax!
Smile and wave.
So, what did you do
This weekend Steve?
Middle-Management Steve:
Well, it was nice to spend time with family
Now I’m back from my leave
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
Yes, I wish well to your mother
I know your aunt she just passed
Middle-Management Steve:
Thanks a million guy swell
Now get me that email quick fast
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
Yessir you sure got it.
Ha ha hick hee hee
I’ll shoot you those numbers in a jiffy
My good friend boss Steve.
Around 9:40 my eyes glaze
Over with doubt
What am I doing in this office?
Sitting here will give me gout.
My belly is swollen.
My back hunched spasms with cramps
My vision is blurry.
From the flickering lamps
I need another coffee!
(I say to my right)
Coworker 2:
I drink tea, what’s for lunch?
(did she mean shut the hell up)
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
Just some cheeseburgers and soda
And fries as my crutch
Coworker 3:
I love me some fast food
My other coworker agrees
Sure there’s diabetes
And coronary heart disease
The rain forests are timber
The cattle well fed
They’re rounded up for lunch and dinner
Sandwiched between buns of bread
Cows scream with their throats sliced
Blood soaks the floors
Diced up on the line fast
For butchers and grocery stores
Immigrant laborers moan
With carpal tunnel syndrome
But why think horror scenes
I’ve got cheeseburger dreams.
All those soybeans sprayed
With Monsanto roundup
The weedkiller of death
Pesticides pollutants
Inhaled carcinogenic breaths.
The monocrop agriculture
Fields flowing out of sight
For feedlots of cattle
With their future so bright.
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
Time for my fifteen minute break
I used to go out for a smoke
Now I just chill and watch
The ground ozone haze choke
Children playing outside.
Childhood asthma on the rise
We can’t see the mountains
It’s a smoggy day by design
Cause if you saw mountains in the morning
You wouldn’t come back from lunch
Just pack up your car then go fishing
And ditch work till its dusk.
But its bad weather outside
The haze clouds my eyes
And the cloud streaks contrails make
Whatever that they create
At least I don’t work laying asphalt
On hot oily streets
I’m lucky, went to college,
I’ve got those laborers beat!
So back to stare at the flickering
Screen under florescent tubes.
Be nice grin and smile
And be sure not to act rude.
We’re a pleasant place with just culture
Not microaggressions please
It’s the office climate’s new policy
Outside parking lots without trees
Lunch time is coming!
I ask my cubicle cellmate, what’s up?
Cubicle cellmate:
I’m zapping some leftovers
From yesterday’s lunch
Ordinary Middle-Aged Office Worker:
Oh screw this I think loudly
I’ll go out and get fat
All the while dreaming of visions
Where life is all that
Inhale my burger
Down my drink
Quickly eat my fries
Back to waste away seconds
Inside my office of lies
We leave for the day
Some take the bus.
Suckers I’m privileged!
I jump on the freeway’s stop and go rush.
Tomorrow there’s coffee.
Wages are flat.
Prices are rising.
War’s peace and all that.
Freedom is homelessness.
Got to do time to get paid.
Well swell I’m so lucky
I’ve got it all made.
Get a job after college.
Pay my bills do my time.
I may not have my own home like my parents.
But at least I can rhyme.
Coffee keeps me up in the daytime.
Alcohol soothes me at night.
Middle age is just jolly
Living here my best life
So tomorrow I’ll see that girl smiling
Grab my cup of stars for a buck
We’re all here just trying
To earn more than just enough
But the winds of change are blowing
For better to stay
Coffeeshop wages are rising.
We’ll drink spring water one day.