I came out of school armed with a degree

My gun range and instructors were top

My internships .22 LR

My education 51 mm

I want the big game

I creep into the forest in my very best

Pencil skirt, blouse, slacks

I camouflage my face with eyeliner and lipstick

I step over branches in my heels

I’ve got one rifle but so many triggers

I submit an application 

BANG!

They know I’m here

I shoot and shoot but still can’t catch my prey

I go wide on a shot here

I ricochet off a rock there

Someone else steals my kill here

Another person outshoots me there

I spot a stag but it’s got rabies

I manage to clip a deer but it still manages to bound away

Are my shots aren’t strong enough to kill?

I decide to change my targets

Smaller game may be easier

I may only get part-time 

Retail or some other form of customer service

I’d be lucky to get some pencil-pushing

But at least I don’t go home empty handed

I set up my snares only to get snared instead

Now my finances have been strangled and someone else will bring them home

I dangle upside down from a tree

I manage to cut myself loose

I go home and lick my wounds

But I have no choice but to enter the woods and hunt again

I eye the treeline

ZipRecruiter, Indeed, LinkedIn…

Wonder if I should have learned archery instead

Is my rifle faulty?

Was my training a mistake?

Are my bullets useless?

I want to give up but I can’t turn back

I plunge into the forest once again.