[lit-ideas] Re: A Job of Work
- From: "Lawrence Helm" <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Wed, 8 Feb 2006 09:15:23 -0800
John, I wrote that poem 14 years ago, and still remember that fellow coming
to me. He was a retired military officer. He didn't end up working for me,
and I can't recall what happened to him. The last two lines have to do with
the sort of things we did with layoffs. Someone being laid off would say
something to show he was handling it okay, "life goes on," "I was looking
for a job when I found this one," which would be the penultimate line.
Those who aren't laid off also have to do some philosophizing. "I just
happen to be on a program that wasn't hit," "it just so happened that they
needed the project I was working on," or "it was in the hands of God or
fate, not me." We wanted to be able to think, "I should not be blamed that
he was laid off instead of me," especially when the person being laid off
was a good friend.
Lawrence
-----Original Message-----
From: lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:lit-ideas-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of John McCreery
Sent: Wednesday, February 08, 2006 6:25 AM
To: lit-ideas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [lit-ideas] Re: A Job of Work
I am trying to think why this grabs me as strongly as it does. Partly
it reminds me of the corporate warriors I have seen at the bar at our
club in Yokohama, so many of whom have gone from high-flyer to baffled
"Oh, my God" when an employer has decided that they are no longer
necessary.
Do wonder about what you meant in the last two lines. Care to explicate?
John
On 2/8/06, Lawrence Helm <lawrencehelm@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> A JOB OF WORK
>
>
>
> I spoke to an old boss
>
> And asked about his job
>
> Which I'd heard was insecure
>
> And whether he wanted to come
>
> Work for me. There was no irony:
>
> I was a gray beard who had
>
> Seen more things than that.
>
>
>
> He said he'd survived another week
>
> Knowing, the while, his time was short.
>
> We spoke of his possibilities.
>
> I returned to a weakened
>
> State, the flu had sapped me.
>
> There was no offer I could make
>
> Beyond that consideration;
>
>
>
> So we left it there: his feeling
>
> The benefit of my concern.
>
> My feeling of doing right.
>
> We rested there in confidence
>
> That all had been said. He'd think
>
> Of it as part of the continuum.
>
> I'd see it as having been ordained.
>
>
>
> Lawrence 1992
--
John McCreery
The Word Works, Ltd.
55-13-202 Miyagaya, Nishi-ku
Yokohama 220-0006, JAPAN
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