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January 2026

Checking In by Ed Rinderle

Checking In

by Ed Rinderle

I'm in charge of the check-in table.

It's important work.

I don a friendly face

And greet people as they arrive.

I hand them a blank name tag

And remind them to use a felt-tip pen, not a ball point,

So that those of us whose eyesight is lacking,

Or who have trouble remembering names,

Can read the name tags from across the room.

I offer them a participant guide

Which they can purchase for a small fee

Free of shipping and handling and taxes.

It's important work.

And I enjoy it.

But I can't help but think

Of how I'd rather

Be in some secluded place

Talking about anything

With you.

🤗🤗🤗🙂🙂😙😉 This poem was read by its author at A Poetry Gathering