(1967 - / Ohama / Nebraska)

poet Erin Belieu
#248 on top 500 poets
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From On Being Fired Again

I've known the pleasures of being
fired at least eleven times—

most notably by Larry who found my snood
unsuitable, another time by Jack,
whom I was sleeping with. Poor attitude,
tardiness, a contagious lack
of team spirit; I have been unmotivated

squirting perfume onto little cards,
while stocking salad bars, when stripping
covers from romance novels, their heroines
slaving on the chain gang of obsessive love—

and always the same hard candy
of shame dissolving in my throat;

handing in my apron, returning the cash-
register key. And yet, how fine it feels,
the perversity of freedom which never signs
a rent check or explains anything to one's family...

Submitted: Monday, January 13, 2003


Read poems about / on: candy, romance, family, freedom, time, fire, sleep

Comments about this poem (From On Being Fired Again by Erin Belieu )

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  • Gajanan Mishra (5/7/2013 5:22:00 AM)

    what a poem really! I enjoyed it within. thanks.

    0 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • Robert Burns (5/9/2012 12:18:00 PM)

    My, my, how you did swim aganst the TIDE. Did it make you tougher or wiser, or both. My vote is both!
    Robert Burns, Portland, Oregon

    0 person liked.
    		1 person did not like.
  • Walterrean Salley (5/8/2012 4:13:00 AM)

    You certainly took it very well. Sounds like you bear a lot of the blame? ? ? However, glad you made it through. A thought provoking little poem.

    0 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • June Walker (5/8/2012 1:46:00 AM)

    Love the humour in this poem.

    1 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • Jasbir Chatterjee (5/8/2012 12:22:00 AM)

    Hi Erin! I like your happy-go-lucky attitude towards being fired...

    1 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • Kevin Patrick (5/7/2012 7:40:00 PM)

    It certainly has lots of mischievous charm that’s embellished by its pervasive anguish that hangs in all the illusions being used. I will admit that your use of language in the lest section, I think I know what your suggesting, but it seems like it could be something else. This confusion really makes it the most fun to read.

    0 person liked.
    		1 person did not like.
  • Abhilasha Singh (5/7/2012 6:41:00 AM)

    The way you ended the poem is purely brilliant! :)

    0 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • Manonton Dalan (5/7/2012 4:01:00 AM)

    i wonder how a fired ceo writes his/her views? this poem
    is so close to reality... i think.

    2 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • Hebert Logerie Sr. (7/25/2009 8:17:00 PM)

    I like this poem for its unusualness!

    0 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
  • M.S. Latter (1/31/2006 9:52:00 AM)

    A thoughtful poem on a rarely addressed subject. I particularly like the 'hard candy
    of shame dissolving in my throat' (sweet and bitter at once?) and the poem ending.
    Well done,
    Martin

    0 person liked.
    		0 person did not like.
Read all 10 comments »

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