I'm Sorry To Say Poem by Margaret Alice Second

I only believe in conspiracies I'd design myself my
bubbly colleague said - and sad I am to say, even
then, the conspiracy's only in her head given that
I, the subject, didn't try posing as Spanish expert
knowing two conjugations of the verb ‘to be': ser
for ever & estar temporarily - and this is because

A nuclear reactor in my head melted my brain - it
burned learning capacity away; I can't retain new
facts, preventing me from getting a senior post; I
can't tell my delighted colleague or spoil her fun
while she's an under-cover trouble-maker, dare I
force reality on her, diminish joy she emanates &

Shares so magnanimously? I'm guilty of a sin of
omission, not informing my cheerful friend there
won't be a shock for boss, Mme la Pompadour,
who won't find my name on an applicants list; &
why live with angry section-head's enmity when
being the normal Public Servant creates a quiet

Work place atmosphere? My colleague will leave
next week, & I don't want to face public windmill
fights with Mme Pompadour for a salary increase
normally vouch-saved for persons who can relay
Spanish lines in English terminology; and such a
category doesn't include me, I'm sorry to say…