Many of you are probabally aware of the mess the high-tech industry is in. The telecom portion of that industry is leading the way in that regard.

Since I work for, what will most likely be in the very near future, a company that ran out of funding and closed their doors, I thought a song about the plight of others in the same situation is in order.

So here it is:

Suddenly Poor
copyright 2002 Dean Paulson

The times are rough in the coridor,
the likes of which none have seen before.
Gone are the days of riches galore,
and many's a friend that's suddenly poor.

There once was a time, we may fondly recall,
when things were quite different - before the fall.
A future secure with no worry at all,
with a chance to succeed, be proud, and stand tall.

To start-ups we went with judgement swayed,
working long hours, some fortunes were made.
Yet many were shaken by masquerade,
and were left feeling more than betrayed.

We hung on and battled the best that we could,
and hoped things would get better, we all understood.
With each passing day we did what we should,
although we all knew just where we stood.

The budgets were cut, the VCs ran scared -
jobs disappeared, like into thin air.
For those that are left I hope they're prepared,
for those that are left, no better they'll fare.

The times are rough in the corridor,
the likes of which none have seen before.
And many's the friend that's suddenly poor,
and many's the friend that's suddenly poor.

----
corridor - "Telecom corridor" in Richardson TX
VCs - venture capialists

--- Line breaks <br> added ---
---Jeff (PA)---