The Cubicle by Jennifer Lemming

The cubicle is the cuticle
of the modern work day.

A thin membrane separating
the fleshy part of work from

the erosive atmosphere
of the day. When we smell

the lunch of a coworker or
when we hunch over

the phone with a creditor,
and when a loving whisper of

goodbye by phone or email
doesn’t cover our hurt,

our cubicle splinters and cracks
from the daily pressure of rough

trade around us, and we are
surprised not to emerge

bloodied as a bruised
finger-nail bed.

http://www.poetrykit.org/pkl/CITN/citn52.htm