We considered gathering at the water cooler
……………………..(it’s where you spent most of your time)
but decided to have a morning tea
……………………..(to honour your homemade muffins).
We’re here to say goodbye to a dear colleague
……………………..(who never fitted in)
one of the more colourful members of the team
……………………..(wearing a frown mostly to feign busyness)
who’s been unwell for some time
……………………..(complaining of whiplash while sneezing)
but who nevertheless soldiered on
……………………..(after the worker’s compo claim was rejected).
You taught us all many things
……………………..(how to use sarcasm for evil and not good)
and will be remembered for your mastery of detail
……………………..(hence the nickname ‘comma queen’).
We wish you all the very very best
……………………..(and death by a thousand paper cuts).

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Christopher Palmer is a poet and visual artist based in Canberra, Australia. He’s been published worldwide, and his first collection of poems, Afterlives, was published by Ginninderra Press in 2016.