Lost In The Detail

by Kevin Sinclair

Got a fascination with the figures
Looking for the next expense to cut
Down deep into the bowels I go
Another leaking door needs to be shut
Hack and slash is the name of the game
Bonus depends on increased profitability
There are no thoughts given to feelings
Why? That's simply not my responsibility.

Lost in the detail
Couldn't see the forest for the trees
One more "i" to dot
And a "t" to cross
And then the job will be finished
But where does it leave me now
The baby's gone with the bath water
And I'm just sinking down.

Have you seen the big picture
I'm sure it was here before
Out of sight - lost the direction
Just going round in decreasing circles
Drowning in a sea of information
How do I tell the good from the bad
Why do I end each working day
Feeling so empty and sad?

Lost in the detail
Couldn't see the forest for the trees
Implement the cut-backs
Have a staffing freeze
Does this make any sense
Will we look back and laugh
It's a sorry state of affairs
We're just left in the dark.

Too soon it happened
Needed a strategic break
But the expertise had been lost
For a few dollars sake
Who is to blame now
It'll cost us twice as much
False economy has a price even though
We may not recognise it as such.

This poem is from a collection of poetry by Kevin Sinclair. For a listing of other poems by Kevin published on this site, click here.