misery loves (retail) companies

 
in this
shrinking
bitter
half-empire
 
wearing a badge with a smiley face
is practically
 
a red rag to a bull
 
it’s smug
 
it’s taking the piss
 
and people will
wipe the smile
right off that badge
 
smiling as they do.

About the Author

Paul Tanner has been earning minimum wage, and writing about it for 15 years. No, really. His novel “Jobseeker” on Amazon now. Shortlisted for the Erbacce 2020 Poetry Prize. Latest collection “Shop Talk: Poems for Shop Workers” published by Penniless Press.