Badlands

Non-Essential

I look down at the dust on my clothes.

Is there Covid in this dust? Who knows?

The lockdown was declared a few weeks back,

But we're still here, there's still boxes to pack.

The boss says we're essential, so we're still here,

Working in an environment of anxiety and fear.

We talk about the absentees and wonder who'll be next

To self-isolate after a positive Covid test.

Why are we still working through all of this?

Is this really worth the risk?

The Belle of HomeDel knows what I know,

Nothing we are doing is close to essential.

Whether its for education or just to kill time,

Who needs books when they're all available online?

We'd all rather be on furlough than minimum wage

And risking our lives in this haphazard way.

We're dropping like flies. At least six people are off sick.

They've been working here and they've tested positive.

Anyone one of us could be next.

Why are we still doing this?

Its just the pressure from the mighty Amazon

That keeps this river of books flowing on and on.

If we quit working, the boss loses face

With the company who pays millions everyday

Into his bank account. So we strap on our facemasks,

And bend double to our non-essential tasks

In filthy conditions that no one will ever know,

To ensure the Amazon book river continues to flow.