Cattle Inc.

He smiles at me,
with fatherly glances
and says hello.
He jokes and pokes fun,
asks me how my day is,
all sticky sweet,
like corporate sugar.
But I know,
I am just a number.
Here today could be
gone tomorrow,
and he is a fortunate fellow.
He has a whole web
of fortunate bedfellows,
nodding in unison
like bobble-head dolls
bedecking the walls
of his golf tee
and spreadsheet
office.
I line up the plates
and dot the i's,
still all the wise
of my doormattery.
I keep my smile painted,
and deadlines met
with efficiency.
Hungry mouths depend on it.
A pleasantry here,
and a thank you there
does not equate to
me going nowhere.
Doormats are a dime a dozen.
I sip my coffee
and understand
I am merely cattle
in this corporate land.