Automated Voice-Message Systems

“Aren’t you bored in the burbs?”

When someone asked me with unconcealed curiosity,
I pondered awhile.

On reflecting, I see this picture…

While I’m cooling my heels between jobs,

As a Marketing Consultant,

Account Director, or Project Manager;

Am reeling from stumbles, though not quite humbled

Through vain attempts by upstarts at start-ups;

Or again, am beat from chasing admen (& women),

The top twenty are at power lunches;

The rest, as always in a tug-of-war,

Caught between PowerPoint presentations,

Branding, or, ‘new’ product launches;

A few have quit; others not quite;

‘t was rumored they received those dreadful pink slips,

Firmly clipped to their parting pay-slips.

Was it a fall-out of M&A trends,

Those dominating the world… even of A&M!

(Surely, the mighty on Mad Ave aren’t in a tizzy!)

Time ticks away, listening to mailbox options,

Whenever I call a recruiter, a prospective client,

or even to pay those endless bills!

Contrarily, when I call my twin companion,

words-n-motion a.k.a. Chitralekhan,

It only means I’m saying goodbye to

a meaningless “hello”,

or the endless waiting on those cold, unfeeling,

automated voice-message systems!