Run Of The Mill

By Simran Malhotra

Bright eyes

Nervous smiles

Heart racing

Lightly pacing

“Congratulations, you got the job”

Ecstatic energy

Jump with joy

Years and years go by

His identity is a single bright lanyard

Designations change

The process is still the same

Swipe the card while entering

Swipe the card while leaving

Tired eyes

Like well groomed sheep the process goes on

Generation after generation

Automatons

He tires carrying the lanyard

Which was once wispy

Now weighs him down slowly

Day in

Day out

The process is still the same

Swipe the card while entering

Swipe the card while leaving

The card did change

Afresh every time

Its bearer now running out of time

His spirit numbed like rancid wine

Sunken eyes

Compliant gait

Hunching back

He’s paid in abundance

But is robbed of the sublime

Who will tell him he is but a replaceable fool?

The process will always be the same, no matter the mule

Swipe the card while entering

Swipe the card while leaving your soul behind.

By Simran Malhotra