Work gets caught under fingernails
nestles in the rolled-up cuffs of pants
falls to the bedroom floor, ends up in bed.

Work becomes after hours in the lower back
curls up in the corners of lungs
becomes persistent, shortness of breath
gets trapped under a front-end loader
while scavenging in a landfill for beer.

Work is great for diversity reporting
has dark skin, won’t look you in the eyes
won’t join the union — our best work
ers. We built this great nation on the
back of work so black you didn’t have
to pay for it.

Work has four core values and a vision
and its most important value is “integrity”.

Hard work and dedication are desirable
they are fit and young and “collaborating”
in work toilets, you want to be them.

Work seeps from pores, sits beading on brows
is always on time at the dinner table
sprinkling waking hours like salt, 29.4%.

It’s important that work stays at home
during those first developing years
so a house and a car can be purchased
so work can fund the posing of holiday snaps.

Work turns 65, retires, divorces from an
unpaid lifetime of work, now with 24% less super.

Work is a good corporate citizen
always wipes up afterwards
always assists authorities
with investigations.