No one's in charge, they say,
No one's on top.
Nary a counsellor,
Nary a cop.

There's no one in charge, my sweet,
Ask Personnel
(or Human Resources)
Who tolls the bell.

CHORUS: 	You'd know where you stand;
		You'd know how to sit.
		You'd know when a handshake was true ...
		You'd know where to sit,
		You'd know when to stand,
		You'd know when a person could see
		… and appreciate you!

Try Public Relations,
Our bridge to the world.
Try customer Service,
For spin, rinse and swirl.

Those who once boasted
Of stopping the buck,
Now say "Keep your head down,  
Weave, bob and duck."

CHORUS: 	You'd know where you stand;
		You'd know how to sit.
		You'd know when a handshake was true ...
		You'd know where to sit,
		You'd know when to stand,
		You'd know when a person could see
		… and appreciate you! 

No one in charge as yet.
No one above.
Egalitarian,   
Lousy with love.

We smile and we bow, my dear,
Scribble and nod.
Fantasize travel.
Hope there's a God.

CHORUS: 	You'd know where you stand;
		You'd know how to sit.
		You'd know when a handshake was true ...
		You'd know where to sit,
		You'd know when to stand,
		You'd know when a person could see
		… and appreciate you! 

But where is the person
Prepared to say, Yes!
The colleague who dares to say, No!  ?
Instead of the maybes, howevers, and ifs,
The one who can say, "I don’t know …"

(c) Vera Frenkel, Toronto, 1999