Daniel Hogan's Reflection

Daniel Hogan in waiting room
in waiting mode, feeling
like a caged bird waiting
to be released into boundless air
to exchange cheap bird food
for fat worms and other kinds
of delicacies
not on past menus.

Glass door nearby; reflection
stares at, speaks to him:
"Why look so smug? It will be tough
tough to get this job:
assistant to stern, suited man
with toe-cutter reputation!"

Daniel joins reflection
eye-to-eye, chin angled for battle,
hands clasped as though relaxing
in a bowl of Radox,
radiating confidence.

"Don't give a stuff! I can handle
toe-cutters, head-choppers, executioners;
I know what they'll ask;
I know what I'll answer;
I'm prepared!" Reflection whispers,
'What will they ask? What will you answer?'

"They will ask what I know,
what I know about driving
Distance Education programs.
I'll produce an answer
they can't and won't refuse."

*Yesterday I walked, talked,
took notes from, listening
listening, as eagerly
as I might listen
to the sound of bellbirds
in a forest glen
To a generous DE expert
at another uni;. in one day
I heard enough, saw enough,
acquired enough and learnt enough
to occupy enough of my mind
to satisfy your question.*

"Next they will observe
the bulkiness, sheer length
of CV, making it look
like a Tolstoy manuscript
of War and Peace.
'What would you think' they'll ask
'of a CV greater in bulk
than the *Quo Vadis?* script?'
I'll be ready, yes, I'll be ready":

*Such a person would carry
one of two bags with labels;
one labelled 'bearer unstable',
the other, 'I'm a seeker
of personal growth through experience';
and ladies, gentlemen, I tell you truly
I have always carried the second bag!*

"There will be more questions, but none
as important as my two predictions;
no answer more crucial than those
carefully, thoughtfully anticipated."

Friendly voice breaks dialogue,
"Daniel Hogan? Daniel Hogan?"
You may go in now." He rises,
winks, reflection winks back,
confident, easy does it, Daniel!
.

Daniel, on leaving, looks at reflection,
reflection on leaving looks at Daniel;
Daniel whispers, "I got the job!"
reflection grins
a *good upon you* grin,
they dive
into oblivious crowds.

Afterword:

There's a moral to this poem
for those of you who cared
to read it all from GO to WHOA
and that is: *Be Prepared*!

? Patrick Talty 2003, All Rights Reserved.