The Empty Desk

The Empty Desk
as inspired by Edgar Allan Poe's The Raven

Once upon a midnight dreary, after I've finished my work for quaint Ms. Pacey.
I happen to glance on an empty desk,
the desk of Margaret, from ages before.

"Is that her desk just as empty? just like a can of coke on Chris's floor?"
I tried to consider, strained to recall, what happened from years before.

I distinctly remember, I'm sure it was in in the bleak of Febr'y
A gentle sound of ding! - of email arriving on my inbox store.
"'tis another mail," I muttered "from Rayana, the horror next door;
only this, and nothing more."

Upon reading that fortuitous email, i suddenly felt weak with worry,
"Has Margaret grown a bit weary working?"
"Working on this company's floor?"

Once I read the news, it filled me with fantastic terrors I've never felt before.
"What will happen? I say and ask. What will happen to DW Core?"
To still the beating of my heart, I stood repeating,
"Is this true, Jared? A foolish joke, nothing more?"
The answer was something I dreaded,
of where this conversation's headed,
of Jared's look and his voice all breaking.
"I'm afraid 'tis true, her notice was sent this morning."

Thus I sat engaged in guessing, but no syllable expressing,
As I tried to recall that dreaded day, nothing more, nothing more.
Her desk all empty, with Garfield all but showing.
Her broken chair, lay down lying, strewn across the floor,
Her chocolate cofee's all but eaten, sitting in Chantal's draw'r.
Her keyboard 'tis covered in dust, with nothing but her prints absorbed.

As I drag myself to exit, I steal a quick glance once more.
Across her empty and hallow desk, I mutter:
"Was so bitter to see you leave, with all our hopes forlorn.
"I just hope again it doesn't happen again, nevermore, nevermore."