Come. Walk with me.

Down the corridors of power.

Do you see the anxious shuffle, head bowed,

Forehead creased in concentration?

He’s on his way to the CEO’s office

Wondering if today’s the day

He’ll be told the game is up.

Revenues are down, costs are up

The competition’s stealing the best clients

Passing all the employees

He gave bad reviews over the years;

The ones for whom he declined

Promotions, transfers, leave.

The ones he denied bonuses and bursaries

At the stroke of a pen;

A few words on email;

Careless words in a performance review meeting.

The ones whose colleagues he fired

‘For incompetence’,

To cover up for his favourites.

They look away, nonchalantly

Pretending not to feel the anticipation

Of never seeing the back of him ever again.