Some people love a good committee,
And revel in its nitty-gritty:
Arcane debates on last year’s failings,
The contents of circulars and mailings;
The annual dinner, drink and eats;
Optimization of receipts.

Chairpersons, regardless of their gender
Like to set their own agenda.
This, their most important role,
Gives them what they want – control.
They’re happy to keep debate in play,
Provided they have the final say.

Others hold forth, expound, expand
On the minor stuff they understand – –
Like weather, beds and movie stars
And email spam and parking cars.
With substance they’re inclined to freeze,
More often they are absentees.

Then there are those, about a third,
Who, if they have views, are seldom heard.
They arrive, they sit, look lost in thought,
But are they thinking, as what they ought?
As supernumeraries they shirk,
Avoiding tasks and paperwork.

Meanwhile, some champing at the bit,
Are pondering if they should quit.
They are not there for social fun,
But simply, yes, to get things done.
They move, they shake, their presence fleeting,
And off they flash to their next meeting.

Their exit quickly ends debate.
The chairman asks about the date
(making the remaining members fidget)
Of a meeting to discuss the budget.
Members naturally avoid the rigors
Of digesting all those boring figures.

Thus they progress much like a snail.
Faced with demands, most people bail,
Leaving achievement satisfaction
To that rarity, the man of action.

Comment: I have never joined a committee that I didn’t want to resign from.