What Makes Us Human

He wears the yellow paisley tie
that he never unknots–
a gesture for luck–
to compliment the new suit,
which his employment certainly
afforded him.

He received this client
upon the call from the secretary
of the junior partner who
simply mimicked what his superior
had done to him. The great chain
of delegation. Associates
must earn such perks.

As he stands in front of
the double doors to
the conference room,
he removes a comb
from within his jacket
and files away the uncooperative
strands back into a hairline
in the early stages of
retreat–something sleep had
begun long ago.

He corrects his posture, as
upright as possible, and
enters the room to stern
smiles and firm handshakes.

After a litany of drafts and redrafts,
the contract finally rests in front
of them on the table. Each chair-
man reads and nods earnestly.

They utter words like "airtight"
and "boilerplate," even
"genius." Thumbs grip
pens that flitter upon
paper. No future
litigation will harm
another satisfied company.

Soon,
you or I can sign too
so they'll allow us
to willingly walk
barefoot across
a five yard stretch
of burning coals.