Air Force amn/nco/snco | ’Twas the Week of the Furlough | Facebook
’Twas the Week of the Furlough
’Twas the week of the furlough, and all through the Force,
Not a creature was flying, not even in course.
The tankers were parked on the ramp with care,
In hopes that a budget soon would be there.
The foosball was silent, the pickleball too,
No laughter or banter, no lunchtime crew.
The halls were all quiet, the lights running low,
As Airmen and civvies were told they must go.
The mission-essential stayed snug in their roles,
Still working the mission, achieving the goals.
With duty-bound crews still holding the fort,
While the rest of the team gave a full duty report…
…To Netflix, to Costco, or maybe just rest,
On a “paid vacation” (though not how they’d guessed).
No leave form was needed, no PTO burned,
Just thanks to Congress — the paycheck was earned.
Then out on the flightline, there arose such a clatter,
I sprang from my desk to see what was the matter.
Away to the window I flew like a flash,
Hoping it wasn’t more budget whiplash.
The sun on the wings of the KC-135,
Gave a glimmer of hope to the base still alive.
But no jets were spinning, no boom was in air,
Just tumbleweeds rolling through cold autumn air.
When what to my wondering eyes did appear,
But an Airman in civvies with no hint of fear.
He shouted with humor, quite loud and quite slick,
“This furlough’s a joke — and Congress? Real quick!”
More sluggish than molasses the updates they came, And we whistled and waited and called them by name:
“Now Budget! Now Funding! Now, CR Extension!
On Shutdown! On Gridlock! On Political Tension!”
“To the top of the dome! To the Hill’s highest wall!
Now fund away! Fund away! Fund us all!”
As dry leaves that before a wild hurricane fly,
When met with a furlough, morale’s running dry.
So back to our couches the techs they all flew,
With civilians laughing, “Guess we’re off too!”
And then, in a twinkling, I heard on my phone,
The buzz of a text in a frustrated tone.
As I drew up a meme and was turning around,
Down came the email with barely a sound.
It spoke not a word but went straight to its task,
“Keep working, dear Airmen — that’s all that we ask.”
And laying a finger aside of my mouse,
I sighed and looked out at the near-empty house.
But I heard them exclaim, as they logged out of sight,
“Happy furlough to all — stay mission-ready, and bright!”
