All is in Order

Al Bartolis 1957 (NC)

Lyric

All is in Order

My sticky notes, don’t quite adhere,
Not the shark of sharpness, that is clear.
Of forgoing order, I have no fear,
I’ll drop the mike and have a beer.

Scribbled in a scanty, squirrel-like manner,
Plans go awry before placed in my planner.
No ace with the copier, worse with the scanner,
For my swelling trash basket, you must wave a banner.

Start a tardy award, and I’ll sure win.
The meeting is over, before I get in.
The ball is dropping, no way to stop it,
It’s a spillage of non-diligence, no way to mop it.

For each great and neatly arranged scheme,
The upended results become a bad dream.
My time management clock has twisted hands.
My hourglass is jammed with shiftless sands.

I’ll make three trips to get a paper clip.
My chaotic mind is certain to slip.
Better find that reminder, to remember my binder.
Where is that daily agenda? Wish my mind was kinder.

Yet, why should order be in such demand,
When daily regiments are so undermanned.
Letters form words for sentences or verse,
It will be finalized for better or worse.

For each document well plotted,
There is a stain on a tie never spotted.
And for well-crafted notes, by a window ajar
An indifferent wind is never too far.

About this poem

Since I have a tendency to be a bit disorganized, I felt compelled to write this poem. However, I also wanted to convey the message to not take a sense of order too seriously as indicated by the last paragraph.

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Written on December 02, 2022

Submitted by ABP57 on December 02, 2023

: 1:17 min read
: 43 Views

Quick analysis:

Scheme	A BBBB AAAA CCDD EEFF GGAA HHII JJKK
Closest metre	Iambic pentameter
Characters	1,254
Words	259
Stanzas	8
Stanza Lengths	1, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4

Full analysis for All is in Order »

Al Bartolis

I am an elementary school teacher by trade. I feel that being of service to others is one of the most joyous and meaning things one can do in their life. The challenges of that work environment, as well as the state of our world, our country and our communities, impel me to write. I therefore write for reconciliation, restoration, and revelation. Writing, for me is very powerful, because it calls me to be honest. Therefore it is one of the most meaningful things I can do. more…

All Al Bartolis poems | Al Bartolis Books

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Jewoo525
Oh, the daily Sisyphean trials of the corporate machine! I usually don't like poems with such extended rhyme schemes, especially if they are simple; however, I truly appreciated how in this piece, the structure itself lends itself excellently to the author's rhetoric of the dolorous repetition and expectations of the modern workplace. Every stanza adheres strictly to the rhyme scheme, each detail added to the slog of getting through it- and I loved every moment!

I relate to the frustrations of this world and I see how it could people down, this poem made me think of that but in a nuanced way- this poem's other strength is its subtlety. The author doesn't need to make his intended message known through hamfisted statements, just the final line of the final stanza is the quiet rebellion from the repetition that leaves the reader with everything they need. After reading the poem's background, perhaps I am reading too much into it and projecting- but more power to the poem and the genuine feelings it invokes!

Great poem, solid choices. Keep writing! more »
LikeReply3 months ago
- ABP57
  Thank you so much for your compliments on my poem. As to the rhyme scheme, I feel it is like a framework for my verse. I am an auditory person and often I 'hear' the poem start to form in my head, before putting it to the page. Then I aim for meaning within whimsy. If the message is strictly satirical then the rhyming supports the message tonally. With some of my more poignant messages, I try to have the rhyme scheme entertain the reader then follow through with a 'punch' to bring home the point. **I write down the names of those who enjoyed and commented on my work, and make a list so I can follow them. I will keep an eye for for you, Jewoo525 and look forward to reading your work. more »
  LikeReply 13 months ago
JhainDoh
Great poem...This poem is solid stayed on topic and has a Rhythmic flare. This poems speaks to redundancy repetition and organization.
LikeReply3 months ago
- ABP57
  Thank you so much, JhainDoh. Yes, I wanted this poem to be real tight and curt, as a ironic framework for how things can go off the rails. I am so glad that you enjoyed it, and will put your name in my ledger, so I can follow and enjoy your work as well. more »
  LikeReply3 months ago

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"All is in Order" Poetry.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 27 Apr. 2024. <https://www.poetry.com/poem/178122/all-is-in-order>.

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