The NASPP Blog

With this being a holiday week, I thought we’d do something lighter in the blog. John Hammond of AST Equity Plan Solutions and Poet Laureate of the NASPP blog has provided another poem on a very timely topic.

My Year-End, Year-End Affair
By John Hammond

Oh, joy! Oh, rapture! It is here
The time that comes just once a year
When carolers sing with great delight
And children dream all through the night
Of presents and candy and snow of white

The Holidays, most think, must please him so
They see my smile, but cannot know
It is year-end…my stock plan year-end
A deeply close and personal friend
Though forced to mock and condescend

It shatters me to put on a ruse
The scorn of others you did not choose
But we have become close, too close they’d say
If I’d show my affection in any way
I fear they may take you away

We’ve had this dance six times before
The first time I stumbled ’round the floor
Now Fred and Ginger – a grander scale
You in your gown, my tux and tails
True perfection in every detail

It is that perfection you reveal in me
That aroused the affections I have for thee
No other task even close compares
To my year-end, year-end affair
Surely you know our love is rare

And because of that, please shed no tears
But this will be our last – this year
I must move on and leave you now
Something I cannot conceive of how
But another year, they’ll not allow

It’s last year’s dance that did impress
Me in my tux, you in your dress
The perfection we showed, your effortless grace
And now some child will take my place
This year will mark our last embrace

Moving up, I should be pleased
My human bride I have appeased
But leaving you with another man
Who may not love or understand
The way I do, of you, year-end
Is something that I cannot stand

So as we go through day and night
I must arrange to make things right
It was us that was meant to be
Not you and this child, my stock trainee
You shall be mine for eternity

So came the night of our last good-bye
And when you gazed up in my eyes
I knew was time to make my move
The fiery passion within me grew
And grasping your throat…you knew it, too

And when was done…I kissed your face
Still holding you in a warm embrace
This…perfection to the last detail
And for eternity they’ll tell our tale
You in your gown, my tux and tails

Happy Holidays!
Rachel and I are taking the rest of the week off from blogging. I hope you are enjoying your holidays and we’ll see you in the new year!

– Barbara

P.S.–Don’t forget to renew your NASPP membership by December 31 or you’ll miss your chance to qualify for the free audio of an NASPP Conference session.