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The Braithwaite Boy

I knew the Braithwaite boy at school;

I knew him when he started work.

He bagged fruit at the market stall:

Quite slow, but never one to shirk.

 

His parents lived beside the park;

They were the type to put on airs.

They saw him as an office clerk

Or in the city selling shares.

 

But he was quiet, often teased,

And ready to accept his place;

The customers seemed...

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Lifework

Support worker

Hoody, vape and tatt

All night I've been sat

Another coffee will wake me up

Here's a magazine, take my cup

 

 

Alone on the ward, feeling bored

My eyes crush a matchstick hoard

Marks and scuffs on the walls

Remind me of times, restraints and all

 

 

Long days and nights settle in my thoughts

Old faces, names, and incidences haunt

Decisions made, young peop...

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mental healthsupport workerNHSworkmind

Future Found

The colour of your shirt does not determine your standing or standard of life,

Your position within a company does not make you who you are,

When describing one's self it is hard to not chronicle ones job,

Instead regale your sole and subsequent wisdom.

The 8 to 10hours a day you spend away not looking at reflection nor self-righteous meditation can leave you impatient yet waiting and ...

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Worklifefreedom

Consistency

Keep the tips of my fingers callused,
The rings to my eye sockets,
Deep and purple.
I do not have the luxury of being lightning in a bottle,
I must make my presence known through substance,
Filling the sea of aspirations with my own,
Intoxicating and plentiful,
The key to any readers hearts,
My own suffering.
I will expose myself bare,
Devour my offering so that I may find release.
Unde...

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workpassionpoemsleep

Prelude to a working day

 

The toast was warm and buttery

The coffee, hot and strong

The radio played a reminisce

From sunny days long gone

I sipped away the aches & pains

And watched the morning light 

Brush honey upon the basking birds

That sang with all their might

The open door leaked warming breeze

And a hint of dewy blooms

But, time tick-tocked reality

To rejoin life's spinning lo...

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Lifeworkmorning

24.09.20 

Tick tick tick 
Tap tap tap 
The clock ticks down 
On an inevitable time bomb 
That is my collapse 

You're the only thing keeping me together 
A solid foundation 

You never let me down 
Or abandon me 
Coz there's nothing you need from me 
Except perfection 

Show up at meetings 
Plan everything 
Be everything, for everyone 

I can be a wreck 
But I'm the perfect p...

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workworkaholicmental health issues

The Feminist Friend

Everyone’s having babies

Everything’s just turned up a whole notch of crazy

They must just think I’m lazy

But I too, could really love a baby

 

Makes me feel quite stupid

I’ve never had luck with cupid

Life doesn’t come with a blueprint

But really did for you, kid

 

Never been dripping in diamonds

Couldn’t find a man to afford them

And even if he offered

I’d ...

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friendshipfeminismloveromancepoemwomensocietyworksystemhappyruleslife

New Buds

The old man stepped out into the garden and stood in the sunshine. Warm, yes, but not too warm to work. He collected the battered barrow from the shed. In it a kneeler and a bucket containing gloves, a trowel and secateurs.

There had been five weeks without significant rain and at the end temperatures had been up in the mid to high thirties. Now, after some good downpours, the garden was just ...

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gardenhaibunsunshinework

Money

 

Money is the soul to reach a goal 
It is the tool to play a role
But if you're miser or a poor 
No way to live happy and cool 

 

Luck is the wing across future 
but work is the core of the creature
To be strong even no wing 
Keep your effort to win the venture 

 

Poor & rich, should also search 
Money everywhere, we must fetch 
the only lazy .. also crazy 
Forever, no goa...

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acrossbenazouzcoolcorecrazycreaturecultureefforteverywherefetch lazyforeverfuturegoalhappyhopekeepliveluckmiserMoneymustplaypoorreachrichrolesearchsoulstrongtoolventurewaywinwingwork

Believe to Live


 

Be happy with what you have 
Then you will have what you hope 
Firmly, work and save 
Simply, you reach the top 

 

It depends on you more 
Than a reason or a cause 
Not because rich and poor 
Your brain, how much knows 

 

Do believe in God's Judging 
And gain your thought results 
God never asks a jumbling
But to be aware of the facts

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askawarebelievebenazouzbraincausedependsfactsfirmlygainGodhappyhavehopejudgingjumblingknowslivemoremuchneverpoempoetrypoorreachreasonresultsrichsavesimplythoughttopwork

The choice 

Translation of my Arabic Poem (“The Choice”) 

Who, in the World, chooses his birth? 
Who chooses his family and children? 
Who chooses his fate and country? 
Who chooses the time to go to heaven? 

But it is possible to choose our day 
To sincerely care about family and work 
This will be the first right step to our future 
To achieve our goals while we're alive 

Your name and countr...

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achievealiveambitiousbehaviorbenazouzbirthcarechangechildrenchoicecountrydaydecisiondialogueechoendenjoyfamilyfatefirstfuturegiftgoalsGodhappilyheavenhumanknowledgelifelosernamepartplanningpossiblepresentreligionrightsincerelystepsuccesstalkthoughtsviewwantwillingwinnerworkworld

MAKE SUCCESS

At the end of everything 
Some results come to gain 
Thus, you can get experience 
How to deal with same again 

Don't think, it was so difficult 
Just use your own brain 
Be ready for every possible 
Don't tell me "but in vain" 

If you can say "I decide it" 
The desert turns green 
Then you'll exert success 
Surely will forget the pain 

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achievementaimbenazouzeffortsfarag.afifygoalhopeOutLoudperformancepoempoetpoetesspoeticpoetryskysuccessvictorywork

Introvert's Day Off


I packed a suitcase for just myself 
then took a trip to winter months. Found
the key to the bedroom in a snow-crusted corner. 
Flat-lined in a crowded room and had to shake

off the hangover in          
                    empty spaces. 
So mood landed on carpet
and grew dim like a lamp when the flimsy blanket
drapes over the shade to welcome the latest
blast of ice in gray sunset. 
...

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introvertworksocial anxiety

Cultivating Life

A traffic jam that spans an entire epoch

Is followed by daily punishments of

Dreary Sisyphean meanderings,

Followed by even more traffic

In sweltering heat and sticky humidity.

 

With all energy drained from

Lungs, limbs, and mind,

He shuffles into his house

Seeking only relief and brief reprieve.

 

As he unbuttons his soaked shirt,

“Do me,” assaults his ears

...

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procreationlifesexbabiespoetrywork

Greed

I'm ok. Overworked and underpaid. 
But what's it to them, they have it all made. 
I'm tired and pained but if it wasn't for the gain,
I wouldn't be out slammin out here jammin like it's fame. 
If I knew what it was all about
In the end would they pay out?
If i saw through all the lies and the cheats,
If they didn't cover our eyes, mouth, and nose with the sheets, 
And we saw what the money...

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corporatefameindustrymoneyOverworkedpaywork

CHOOSE GETTING FIRED

 

CHOOSE LIFE, choose getting fired, choose beating the system, fucking the system, fuck the system. Choose office politics, small talk, polite talk. Signing birthday cards for people you don’t even like. Choose snacking because you are bored, eating cake because it’s there.  Filling up the coffee machine, smiling once you’ve done it. Choose getting praise for work you hate, hating work for peo...

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societyworksystemhappyruleslife

The Return of 7:22 (at 7:27 )

In their wool blend suits

And Primani boots

Crusaders on a mission  

Like jockeys before the National

They jostle for position

As the 7:22 snakes into view

They anticipate her breaks

She grinds unto a squeaking halt

Before the incumbents make their escape

Hands in pockets lined in pockets

Aligned to the doors

They brace and embrace the putrid heat

Swim toward a ...

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TrainsManchesterWorkSwarmsMassesDemotivation

It's Dark Now

It’s dark now

In a morning

And I really don’t like the cold

 

Rising early

In the dead dark world

I’m feeling suddenly old

 

My bones creak

And my back is aching

I’d like to be back in my bed

Dreaming.

 

Still, there are bills to pay

And work to be done

So I’d better make a move

 

It’s cold now

In a morning

And I want to be home before its d...

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work

Frustration and Boredom

Deep seated boredom and frustration
Grinding at my begrudged concentration
Slowly I watch my brain cells die
And slowly I can’t be bothered to try
My mind’s enraged like an animal caged
Today is another one of those days
Five in fact like a boiling pot
With the lid on while I keep getting hot
In my mind I overflow
In ways I couldn’t let them know
I contain an explosion of colours and wor...

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workboring timefrustrationcreativeCrazygoing insaneoffice

Same Sh*t, Different Day

standing there silent, feet on the ground
in a world of my own whilst folk rush around
in every direction, this seething throng
is it just me, am I in the wrong
am I the only one in this crowd
not making a noise but wanting to shout
and scream at those that are nearby
I shrug my shoulders, let out a sigh
all going to the office, a corporate ideal
sterile surroundings, same look and feel
...

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workofficestress

Responsibility

Responsibility          

                                  

Responsibility is an evil friend,

It won’t let you walk away less you offend,

You stop and serve – your duty do,

For the benefit of those who would spit on you,

and for those you know in need,

and, for those who helped you indeed,

Responsibility is an evil friend,

It will destroy you in the end.

 

I’ve be...

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Responsibilityworkjob

Meanwhile, In Sweden

Human resources -
She works in human resources.
Don't tell anyone.

Sometimes I hear those screams from her basement;
Screams like giving birth to a fully grown and functioning dentist.

Then, after the screams,
There's that familiar matryoshka doll silence.

The crooked blood leaks from her sleek harbinger mouth,
As she carries the sleek heavy-duty plastic refuse bags,
One by one,
To...

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Suki SpanglesSwedish TV detectivespost-rock poetrypost-rockhuman resourceshumourhumorous poetrywork

Duty Of Care - Extreme Combat

  Staff Notice  


Dear all
Please take this refresher advice as a friendly reminder
Of our protocol for calling in sick
Which is  

In the first instance call the shift supervisor
Inform them why you are unable to attend your shift
Be as clear as possible
The more information the better 
We don't need to hear a blues lyric
Only the truth
This information will of course remain ...

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post rock poetrypost rockSuki Spangleshumorous poetryhumorous versesatirical poetryparody poetryhumorhumourwork

A day to achieve

I wake up to blue skies and a bright sun
My alarm rings, now my day has begun
I turn on the hot shower, the bathroom begins to steam
When I'm done I dry and put on my best dress
I have an important meeting today so I need to impress 
After the usual traffic jam I finally arrive at work
I'm greeted with smiles from familiar faces
I come face to face with my boss as my heartbeat races
Good m...

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workbossactivismwomen

The lady of the night.

There's a lady
who's known as the lady of the night. 
On the dot of 9-00 she arrives, 
with her fiery lips and fiery hips
dressed in colours that match her eyes. 
She totters on heels as high as a hand
and makes her way down the street 
to the place that she calls her place of work 
where her clients know that she’ll be. 
In driving rain she'll be there again 
as the drivers stutter on b...

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Loveworksexprostitutionchildrenmother

The Making Of A Worker

The Making Of A Worker.

 

The lorry tips its rubble

On the road outside our house,

the privet hedge engulfed

in a primordial cloud of dust,

it drives away in chugging glee

having spilled its heavy load

and we stand and watch it go

as the carbon mountain settles.

 

The sergeant-major father

barks his orders at the troops

and our little hands clasp tight

the...

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capitalismchildhoodcoalcoal deliveryhard workNostalgiaparentsrewardwork

Work Day

Pounding the phones

Hello? Is anyone home?

Trying to make that dollar

While all anyone can do is hollar

Please, shh! Hear me out!

There's no need to shout!

Listen for a minute

And I promise I'll be quick to finish

Can I interest you in a quote?

On your car, home, or boat?

No, its not a joke

Not your average bloke

Out to trick and deceive

I'm just trying to do...

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workworkflowsalesphonescallingoutboundcallsmoneyjobaggravationfrustrationtrying

On a mat appears...(an early practice poem for a public art commission)

 

Sliver, slip, slub, snarl, sup-up

pins, pair, pick, put up,

inandoutinandoutinandout,

nip, nicking, necking, nosing,

nightnoisesirensnevending,

inaweinaweinawe,

nocturnal nattering ‘til noon,

get-up garble gibbering go work

 

Murmeringmutteringmouthingmilling

unclearunblockingunravelling

laying-on, let-in, long lever

endsneverendneverendnever home again up ...

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cottonElk Mill Spinning Mulemill slangmills.work

My Lottery Win

I spotted a slip of paper

Blowing around the floor
Nobody else had noticed it
So I had to go and explore

I chased it around the pavement
Through the bus station door it blew
I managed to catch it and pick it up
It was last weekend's lottery ticket, who knew?

It was for the big, multi rollover
Thirty million they said
And they were still seeking the winner
All sorts were going thro...

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lotterywinloserichmillionsworkleisure

The Usual

Sun through window,

Clock ticks.

I stare into space,

Blank mind like empty canvas.

Pen taps,

Doodles,

Failed slaughterer of time.

 

Work unfinished,

Clock ticks.

Cold coffee untasted,

I look at unread my emails,

and ignore them.

Facebook?

 

Clock ticks.

Clock ticks.

Clock ticks.

 

Shuffle papers,

Move mouse,

Press keys,

Clock ticks.

...

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workboredomfacebookofficepenclock

Work Day's End

WORK DAY ENDS

The work day leaves around me.

I do not share the rush to cars or beers or childcare pickup.

I do not need to slice the everyday’s hot cord

that doesn’t fuel my energy, my need

to prove I can - mostly to myself.

I let the walker-talkers move

somewhat shy of stampede down halls

too long for anything but gale-strong drafts,

up hills too steep for anything but...

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communitysolitudework

Crime of Comfort

 

It's morning again
                            and
                                   I'm trapped in.

Out of bed
                 but
                       into the same lie I roll.

I have no alibi
                       for
                            committing the sin

of deep-diving
                       into
                             this "cozy" 9-to-5.

"Take a ri...

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comfortcrimefreedomjobriskwork

Hero

Once-upon-a-time, a barman worshipped the Sun.

Worked nights so didn’t see much of it

but in his head he’d got stories of

the Fire God supreme,

Blaze Lord,

vanquishing monsters who'd eat out your dreams.

 

He called the Sun ‘Hero’,

believed it had six pairs of arms,

giant wings of flame

and the handsomest nose in the galaxy.

Made moons blush

and g...

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dominic berrygayqueerveganvegetarianpoetpoemperformancetheatreherowizardfreed upcontactgreenroomflapjacksungodworshipdrinkalcoholbarpubdreammoonstarfaithbeliefstar warslight saberdrunkworkjobnightflatdragonbedsleepdoleunemployedbenefitssickilldepressionanxietystress

18 months experience

18 months experience in:

filing, stacking and procrastination.

Got all the skills you need

to capture your attention.

I' ve made a million cups of tea

and then watched it, undrunk, swirl down the plughole

with a gurgle it was gone,

Like my ambition.

£250 a week

to sit and chat,

wonder what to do at the weekend,

Wondering, where's the party at?

Finally five o'clo...

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ambitionvoided ambitionwork

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