TIKTOK RAMEN

Why are we dressed up
or pretending to dress up
as if we are dying to impress
when all we want
is to look the part

Why are we trying
or pretending to try
to fix a broken projector
when all we want
is for the meeting to end

Why are we reading
or pretending to read
from a single projected screen
when each of us
has one glowing in our laps

Why do we look interested
or pretend to be interested
in something half-muttered by the boss
when all we can think of
is that viral TikTok ramen recipe

What we hoped for
really, earnestly hoped for
to attend meetings in our pjs
to host a discussion with bad breath
to drown the suckers out with Spotify

And boy did we get our wishes
Two magical buttons - mute and camera off
Now I chop onions between presentations
Unmuting in time just to say the obvious
while plating the viral TikTok ramen
as the boss rambles on and on