"If I Ran the Office" - a story in rhyme

"I love my new job," the new graduate said.
"And not just because it is keeping me fed.
I love it because of the things that I do,
Like design ads, write copy, and have meetings, too.

And the people I work with are simply quite grand.
They like to include me in things they have planned.
They're nice to each other, and nice to me, too.
I think that, together, we're quite a great crew!

Unlimited coffee is another great thing
We have in supply while we are working.
I didn't drink it so much before, but, you see,
The coffee we have in our office is free!
And getting more coffee is an excuse I have found
For leaving my desk some, and walking around.

Yes, I love my new job," the young graduate said,
"but every day after work, I am ready for bed.
I think the caffeine crash is zapping my powers,
Or maybe it's the staring at a computer for hours.

Whatever the reason, the caffeine or screen,
The tiredness I feel after five is obscene.
But I've noticed a few little things I would change,
If I ran the office, to make me not feel so strange.

For one, I would insert a full beverage bar
Right next to the coffee; that's not going too far.
With waters, and juices, and nice decaf tea -
Things that won't start a great big caffeine spree.

And instead of just chocolates on each desk in a dish,
Some healthier snacks are some things that I'd wish.
Popcorn, and pretzels, and yummy trail mix,
Dried fruits and Fig Newtons might be just the tricks.

And for a break from the screen, to give one's eyes a rest,
A modest solarium, I think, would be best.
With benches and trees and green, leafy plants,
Closed in from the rain and the wind and the ants.

And to refresh at the times when the work can be draining,
Employees should have something that's quite entertaining.
But it ought to be something that requires some thinking,
Not mindless tv that makes brain cells start shrinking.

There ought to be rooms full of creative fun,
A place you can go when your mind feels undone.
One room full of Legos, for the construction geek;
Folks can work on a sculpture - a new one each week.
One room should be filled with play-dough and paint
So the staff can be artists when they're feeling faint.

And a room full of exercise balls would be neat,
For folks to use them - and not chairs - for their seats.
They could sit there and balance and bounce while they talk;
It's almost as healthy as taking a walk.

And whiteboards with markers would be great fun for all;
That's something to hang on the walls of each hall.
On the whiteboards, co-workers could generate fame
For their riddles, jokes, puzzles, and collaborative games.

Artistic folks, at the bit, would be gnawing
To use the whiteboards to do some quick drawing.
Others could scribble some words in thought bubbles,
Giving speech to cartoons like Flintstone and Rubble.

The whiteboards would also be a wonderful way
To start new traditions, like the "Joke of the Day."
Or to get folks' opinions on serious stuff,
Like which ice cream goes best with marshmallow fluff.

Co-workers could use the whiteboards to compete,
To see who can best do a mind-bending feat,
Like solving, the quickest, an expert Sudoku
Or figuring the speed at which Hindenburg's smoke flew.

These things would be great for when folks need a break
From the quite intense work that makes the mind ache.
'Cause the mind, like the body, sometimes needs a stretch,
Like the fun, friendly dogs that enjoy playing fetch.

Creative spaces like these are what we need, so I say,
To refresh the mind in a few minutes a day.
Quick breaks such as these will produce better work;
It isn't my job that I'm trying to shirk.

These will wake up the brain so much better than coffee,
Or YouTube, or Halo, or bowls full of toffee.

And so," the grad said, "that would be just my plan,
If I were the one through whom the office ran."