BAD DAY FOR INTERVIEWS
BAD DAY FOR INTERVIEWS
by David Rutter
I spend the day
Videoconferencing
Instantaneous bad news
At the all girls school
Of my mind
It’s a bad day for interviews
Your shrill voice
Reminds me of
Rod McKuen set to music
And the wind blows black
Through your syllables
It’s a bad day for conferences
Automatic writing
And multiple choice
On freeway billboards
It couldn’t be more critical
That you choose wisely
It’s a bad day for a heart to heart
Your knowing eyes
Hide from me
The horror of the truth
Embrace the taciturn face
Of modern education
It’s a bad day for monologues
News travels fast
Faster than love
This far from home
And even though I will answer
When you call
It’s just a bad day for interviews
Interesting set up: “I spend the day videoconferencing.” This one is off to a bad start: “instantaneous bad news at the all girls school of my mind.” I don’t know exactly what that means, but it strikes such a personal discord for the poet, I feel the bad vibes. What happens then is a breakdown in communication on all levels, even the monologue. While people may be “knowing,” they are not communicating “the horror of the truth.” “The taciturn face of education” may be at fault or the consequence. Anyway, the problem expands beyond the day and the classroom.