We Never Speak of Rose

We do not speak of Rose,

who was deposed from middle management,

who went or was made to go, who knows?

We will not mention Rose,

who was with us for a while,

not that she was naughty, bad,

or full of reckless guile.

I suppose (who knows) she has found

a better role,

but all we know is that HR deleted her

from all directories and lists

as if she did not exist.

Her work station was sanitised,

the rise she was promised was 

given to some undeserving underling

and the employee of the month portrait

has been unframed.

Now a faded oblong on the wall

marks where her small shrine was.

Rose, unmissed, was not wept for.

Her special chair went to a more pert backside.

The biscuit barrell in the kitchenette

she long guarded has been gutted,

and is bereft of bourbons, waferless.

Now they eat croissants first thing

and talk of other things, 

of anything but Rose.