Nothing says "I'm back in the office" quite like peanuts for lunch.

(Dedicated to journalist Katherine Dill.)

 

workers by the millions are refusing to return

to their office settings just plain money for to earn.

why go back, they query, where our lunches are so rushed,

we often dine on peanuts that are stale and slightly crushed?

that long commute was murder when we did it yesteryear,

by bus or train or auto or by costumed gondolier. 

the office we have built at home is cozy and productive;

the furnishings are lovely and the atmosphere seductive.

we can get our work done in less time than you would think

it takes to clean the toilet or repair the kitchen sink.

the fridge is always handy and when meeting over Zoom

we can merely dress our tops and let our bottoms bloom.

plus we're feeling burnt out and a glass of wine or two

washing down a Zoloft helps us keep from feeling blue.

(when you do it at the office you become a real hoodoo.) 

Besides you never know if other workers are orthodox

or if they've been infected with the dreaded monkeypox.

Stranded elevators and crazed shooters do abound;

and if there is a plumbing leak you risk becoming drowned.

we have pandemic goldfish that cannot be left alone;

we want no foreign keyboards or unsanitary phone.

and so we are refuseniks, when you ask us to come back;

we'd rather face a horrid case of constant dental plaque!