Joy: on being OOO

read this one ahead of a vacation this summer

 
I roll over, twisted  
technicolor off-ramp, 
in 1200 thread count sheets  
only to realize  
I am here with you 
away, far  
from lists and listlessness,  
alarms silenced. 

“Out of Office” reflex 
fires back  
at incoming email missiles.   
32 already this morning 
since my body clock 
tickled your left eyelid 
open looking at me, 
here and whole. 
 
But let’s not count
things today.   
Only once, 
when you tally  
the gratuity to leave  
on a breakfast tray, 
room service,  
romance. 

Heather M. Coughlin (2024)

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workLIT Memo: OOO is a commonly used acronym by employees to indicate “out of office” in auto-email replies, calendar blocks, or other communications about time away from the office. It is also (fittingly) the title of my inaugural volume of work poems, to be published later this year.