Weekend Work Do
Tina and I are circling the room at speed
wrapped in white table cloths.
Who knew this was what we came here for?
We are tiddly after a day of contributing —
to workshops in small groups,
structured chats on the sunny lawn —
by Q&A around a veneer table
with the gift of bottled water,
we only looked like we were listening.
Early Sunday morning I am compelled to leave
a little white lie for Jonathan, walk to the station
a whole day before the others, head home.
It was the only thing I could have done
to get myself away from that team building,
all that terrible fun.
Caroline Sylge is a journalist and writer. She has published and forthcoming poems in PN Review, Ambit, Stand, The Independent and a Carcanet Press New Poetries anthology.